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Rev. E. M. Isaac. 



The Extremely 
Spiritual Man or 
Holiness in Action 

By 
RE V. E. M. ISAAC 




The Christian Witness Co. 

CHICAGO AND BOSTON 



Copyright, J907, 

by 

The Christian Witness Co. 



•^7 



rygRARY of CONGRESS f 
I Two Copies Received } 
1 JUL V i90f I 

' CoDvneht Eptry 




^ 



This storv is dedicated to the sacred memorv 
of my aged father and mother who taught me 
first the way of righteousness. 

The Author. 



Chapter 


I. 


Chapter 


11. 


Chapter 


III. 


Chapter 


IV. 


Chapter 


V. 


Chapter 


VI. 


Chapter 


VII. 


Chapter 


VIII. 


Chapter 


IX. 


Chapter 


X. 


Chapter 


XL 


Chapter 


XII. 


Chapter XIII. 


Chapter 


XIV. 


Chapter 


XV. 


Chapter XVI. 



CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Daleville 5 

Dr. Strong 17 

Miss Leed 27 

The New Preacher 35 

A Tragedy 45 

The Revival 59 

The Unexpected 75 

The Camp Meeting 87 

Miracles 103 

Ye Are Mj' Witnesses 115 

Plotting 125 

Results 135 

Will Pie Return 145 

He Remains True 153 

Xearing the End 167 

Home at Last „ , 181 



The Extremely Spiritual Man. 



CHAPTER I. 



DALEVILLE. 

Daleville is a western city of about three thous- 
and inhabitants. For a number of years it was 
an insignificant, inland town with a post office, 
general store, blacksmith shop, a small school 
house and a few scattered dwellings. 

One thing, however, was greatly in favor of 
this little country village, and that was its beau- 
tiful location, which indeed had given it the 
name of Daleville. 

Wm. Constant was one of the first settlers, 
and had chosen a homestead which gently sloped 
toward the rugged bank of the Big Coon River. 
A half mile back from this stream the surface 
of the land rose several hundred feet. In some 
places this rise was quite sudden, and from a 
distance had the appearance of sharp blufifs. But 
at this place the rise was more on the gradual 
order ^ath deep dales, dividing the somewhat 
broken surface:. In many of these larger dales 



O THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAX. 

there were small streams of clear water, in some 
places dashing rapidly over their steep stony beds. 

Along the banks of these little brooks stood 
large elm trees intermingled with box elder, 
w^hite poplar, and a few scattered ash saplings. 
Besides the trees there were clusters of heavy 
brush that gave excellent protection for the many 
rabbits which sought refuge there. Along the 
river and for some distance back, the trees were 
so numerous, that they resembled a small forest. 
All this added to the beauty of the location. 

Wm. Constant's land was in time purchased 
for a town site by a banking firm w^hich later 
settled there. Soon after this a railroad was 
built, stretching its long skeleton frame on to- 
ward the setting sun. 

Daleville now began to take on new life. ]\Ier- 
chants built large stores ; many of them brick 
and stone. A handsome graded school building 
was erected, costing twenty thousand dollars. 
An electric light plant, city water works, a 
sewerage system and other modern improve- 
ments soon followed in rapid succession. It is 
needless to state that among the first of the de- 
nominations to build a church was the ]\Ietho- 
dist. This had received the special attention of 
Wm. Constant, who was a consistent member of 
that church. This church building was in keep- 
ing with the other advancements and improve- 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 7 

ments of that day. It had cost fifteen thousand 
dollars. For some years this society was very 
spiritual and did much for the moral advance- 
ment of the community but of recent years it 
had become quite formal and cold. 

It is not our purpose, however, to enter into 
details concerning that period, as we have more 
especially to deal with its later history. We sim- 
ply desire to state that there had been no ac- 
cessions for several years ; indeed there was but 
little evidence of vital godliness among the great- 
er number of the members. 

At the Fourth Quarterly conference of the 
year of which we now have special reference, 
a committee waited upon Dr. Strong, the Pre- 
siding Elder, asking that if it were possible they 
greatly desired that some one might be sent 
them who was as they put it, of a ''spiritual dis- 
position.'' Something must be done and that 
very soon. Their young people were fast drift- 
ing into an indififerent state, while the majority 
of them had become exceedingly worldly. 

The former pastors who had served the charge 
were men of good moral standing. Some of 
them were able speakers. Dr. Swift, who had 
been a pastor at Daleville three years previous 
to this, was much in demand for Fourth of July 
orations, memorial day addresses and often the 
various lodges and fraternities called on him 



8 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

for like purposes. But all this, however charm- 
ing it might be to many, did not ''rescue the 
perishing," nor ''care for the dying,'' who were 
in throngs about them. 

During the present pastor's administration 
things were still getting worse. The prayer 
meeting was nothing more than a formal gath- 
ering of a half dozen women with old Brother 
Constant, who sat and listened to a discourse 
of twenty minutes — and often longer — from their 
pastor. Indeed, much of this time was spent 
in scolding those who were absent. 

All this was depressing and extremely dis- 
couraging to the more serious part of the mem- 
bers. 

Brother Constant was perhaps more concerned 
over the situation than any other one, he, being 
class leader, would naturally with that added 
responsibility be greatly interested. 

Dr. Strong promised to do his best in secur- 
ing a good man for the charge. He told them 
that he knew of an "extremely spiritual" man 
whom it might be possible to send them. It 
would be well for them, however, to expect a 
radical change in the administration should he 
come. 

Old Brother Constant breathed a silent prayer 
that somehow good providence would remove 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 9 

any barriers which might prevent the so-called 
"extremely spiritual" brother from coming. 

Not only was the church in a very low spiritual 
condition, but the benevolences had come far 
short of the apportionment ; the salary while not 
small was exceedingly hard to raise; the con- 
ference minutes showing a frequent deficiency. 
Then it was a well known fact that several of 
the more prominent members were very worldly. 
Some were said to be dishonest in their business 
transactions. 

The social side of the church life had been 
emphasized to the extent of making it appear 
quite theatrical. The greater part of the money 
was raised by means of socials and entertain- 
ments. 

During the few weeks awaiting the convening 
of conference, great was the anxiety as to who 
the next pastor might really be, and what the 
Presiding* Elder had in mind, as well as what 
could have been his interpretation of an ''ex- 
tremely spiritual" man. 

The younger people of the congregation, who 
were members of the church, knew very little 
if anything about experimental salvation. They 
seldom if ever attended class meeting. The Ep- 
wojth League devotional meetings were nothing 
more than a formal gathering of respectable 
young people, who .read clippings from the vari- 



lO THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

ous church papers, besides a few references. Not 
one of them would think of even venturing to 
offer a prayer in pubUc; hence it was their cus- 
tom to repeat the Lord's prayer in unison at 
each service. Some of the leading members of 
the league had been heard discussing the com- 
ing of the new pastor. 

Miss Leed in conversation with Ruth Norden 
had said that she sincerely hoped he would be 
real nice and not old-fashioned. She had so 
much enjoyed the pastors they had had. Not one 
of them had ever preached against dancing. 
Their present pastor was strongly in favor of 
having Article 248 taken from the Discipline : 
for he had made a public statement to that ef- 
feet. ''Then/' said she, "our social card parties 
are such a source of enjoyment to the members 
of the league.'' It was known that the social 
membership had been greatly increased for that 
very reason. 

She even hoped that the coming pastor was 
a good ''flinch player." It would strengthen the 
league very much to have a man who would 
just "get in" with the young people. She thought 
that the great need in the church to-day was 
ministers who could adjust themselves to the 
social life of the young, and thus win their 
friendship. 

To her mind the day had come when people 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. II 

demanded a change from the old ways, and old 
ideas of conducting the work of the church. 

''Why," said she, ''not long ago I was visiting 
at my aunt's in Iowa. She had been telling me 
so much about their good pastor, that I fairly 
craved seeing him, and hearing him preach. So 
when Sunday came I could hardly wait the time 
for service. But do you know, Ruth, before he 
was nearly through with his sermon I thought I 
would die. The things he said were simply 
shocking. Why his text was — let me see, now — 
well, I can't just remember the exact 
place, because I never have time to spend read- 
ing the Bible anyway, it is such a dry book; but 
it was about perfection. He said that we must 
be perfect like God is perfect. I was so dis- 
gusted that I was nearly sick over it. He said 
for instance, that no Christian worthy the name 
would ever think of attending a dance ; not even 
a nice social parlor dance. ' Why just think of 
it, Ruth, what would we young folks do any- 
way? Then to make it still worse and simply 
unbearable, he said that they wouldn't even at- 
tend circus when it came to town. Well, talk 
about suffering agonies ! Why, said he, ''Our 
Discipline forbids our members attending the cir- 
cus." I actually don't believe him. Of course 
I never read the Discipline, but the idea of put- 
ting such trash in the Discipline any way; they 



12 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAX. 

must have been a pious old set who made it — 
and that a hundred years ago, I suppose. Well, 
he went on to say that the old preachers of 
[Methodism always preached this perfection. 
And that the Bishops used to preach it, and 
urged the ministers to continue preaching it. 
Then, said he, it means the same thing in the 
Bible as sanctification, and we must be sanctified 
w^hoUy. Why, Ruth, I never heard such talk. It 
was just enough to kill me, as though we could 
be sanctified while alive in this world. I have 
heard many preachers in my life, but never heard 
one preach such doctrine as that. Then you 
know^, to simply crush me entirely, he invited the 
people to the altar to "seek the blessing" as he 
put it. I never was at an altar in my life; 
why when Dr. Swift was our pastor a few years 
ago, he came to our house and talked to mamma 
about my joining the church, and then he came 
and talked to me about it ; and he was so nice, 
did not even ask me to get on my knees to pray 
about it. 

Well, the following Sunday several of us 
young people joined the church ; we girls had on 
nice white dresses. But I must go on with my 
story. Do you know they began to sing at 
that altar, ''Here I Give ^ly all to Thee," or 
something like that, and the preacher said 
Amen! and Hallelujah! One old lady just shout- 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I3 

ed at the top of her voice and said, "I have the 
blessing! I have the blessing!" and a whole lot 
of other ridiculous things which I did not want 
to remember. And do you know, my aunt was 
up there with them, and said to me that it was 
a great meeting; that some were sanctified. 

Why if we should get such a pastor as that 
I would never enter the church. But indeed, 
Ruth, I must be going. I didn't intend talking 
so long. Don't forget the card party Thurs- 
day eve. 

During all this time Ruth Xorden had listened 
attentively to this torrent of reckless talk. She 
had not even attempted to speak. The strange 
story of this aunt's pastor had made a lasting 
impression upon her mind. She had heard 
through a near relative of this aunt, and her 
piety was widely known. 

Then the fact that the Discipline said so much 
about these social evils and amusements was 
somewhat of a revelation to Ruth. So she had 
determined on procuring one, and seeing for her- 
self. Ruth was of a serious turn of mind. To 
her there was much more in life than mere play 
and show. 

That night found her in her room alone at a 
late hour. With her open Bible before her, she 
carefully searched its sacred pages ! finally she 
turned to the sermon on the mount, and care- 



14 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

fully read the beatitudes. When she came to 
the eighth verse : ''Blessed are the pure in 
heart for they shall see God," she said almost 
aloud, 'That sounds very much like some things 
she mentioned were in the sermon of her aunt's 
pastor/' Reading on she came to the verse which 
reads, "Let your light so shine before men that 
they may see your good works and glorify your 
Father which is in heaven." How forceful they 
seemed to her that night after listening to the 
wild, reckless talk of Miss Leed. 

Many were the serious thoughts which flashed 
across Ruth's receptive brain in that lonely place. 
Some strong resolutions were being formed 
down deep in her heart. As she read the words, 
"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, 
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them 
which despitefully use you and persecute you," 
the effect was as though a sharp arrow had 
pierced her very soul. "Impossible," she said 
so loud it could be heard in the adjoining room. 
"And yet those words are from his own sacred 
lips." Finally the last verse was read, "Be ye 
therefore perfect even as your Father which is 
in heaven is perfect." "Surely this must have 
been the text used by her aunt's pastor on that 
never-to-be-forgotten Sunday morning related 
to me by Miss Leed." She read it over and over 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 



15 




"With her open Bible before her she carefully searched 
its sacred pages." Page 13. 



I5 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

again, the more she read it the greater it seem- 
ed to grow. 

That night Ruth quietly and humbly knelt be- 
fore her Master and this was a part of the 
prayer she offered : ''O Lord Jesus, these words 
are from thy sacred lips. I do believe them. For- 
give the past. It has been such a failure on my 
part. Teach me how to be perfect in the sense 
this scripture implies. Help me to be pure in 
heart, that my light may shine and possibly I 
can lead out of the darkness some poor wandering 
soul. I ask it for Jesus' sake.'' What this pray- 
er really meant to Ruth Norden will be seen in 
what took place a few days later. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I7 



CHAPTER 11. 
DR. STRONG. 

Dr. Strong looked very serious as he sat in 
the passenger coach that Monday afternoon on 
leaving Daleville. He was a true man, and loved 
not only his preachers, but the laity of his dis- 
trict as well. He had served in the traveling 
ministry many years and as a pastor had met 
with much success. He was noted for being 
an evangelistic preacher. He had never failed 
in securing accessions to his church, as well as 
conserving the work in general. Dr. Strong 
was in reality what is generally known as a sym- 
metrical man. 

He was well acquainted with the Riverside 
District, having served it as Presiding Elder for 
four years. He was also sorely conscious of 
the spiritual condition of the church at Dale- 
ville. His meeting with the special committee 
who so urgently requested that a spiritual man 
be sent them had deeply moved him. He pos- 
sessed an intense nature. The cry of the laity 
for spiritual food had touched him as a mother's 
heart is touched when her children cry for the 
bread she cannot supply. 



l8 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

Not only at Daleville had there been such a 
request, but several of the more prominent places 
on his district had signified a desire for ''Gos- 
pel preachers." The secular affairs of life had 
found a very large place in the pulpits, such as 
the discussions of the various questions of the 
hour. There was, to be sure, a certain class to 
whom such themes greatly appealed, and who 
were delighted with men of that stamp. But those 
who bore the brunt and burden of the church 
work and who held places of responsibility were 
hungering for the old time message and power. 

The class-meeting had almost entirely disap- 
peared from the district. There w^ere still left a 
very few churches that were blessed in having 
a class leader and a good attendance at class- 
meeting. It was a significant fact, however, that 
this was usually the result of having in those 
churches some old godly father in Israel who 
clung tenaciously to this old time institution. 

All these facts were hastening through his 
busy brain as the train sped on its way. The 
mental picture was indeed a sad one, even the 
resolutions and the appointment of great men 
and committees by the General Conference did 
not seem to affect the real difficulty in the least. 
Very few of the laity knew such committees 
existed. The more intelligent could scarcely give 
the names of any of them. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I9 

Then the adoption of new resoKitions at the 
annual conference, together with the consecra- 
tions made at the so-called consecration meetings 
under the leadership of some noted Eastern man, 
seemed to last no longer than that session of 
conference. 

Even many of the evangelists had the appear- 
ance of professionalists. A great throng and 
much money was often the desired end in view. 
Only a few of the pastors seemed inclined to 
conduct their own meetings. There were a few, 
however, who failed not in having a revival every 
year. They were often sought by the brethren 
as helpers in evangelistic meetings. They were 
styled as those possessing ''peculiar gifts" for 
this work. Then there was an increasing num- 
ber of those who were termed ''holiness evan- 
gelists" coming into the field ; but they were 
looked upon as "extremists," "unsafe special- 
ists," "second blessing cranks," etc. 

Dr. Strong had never before come face to 
face with so serious a problem as the one which 
now confronted him. It was only a month till 
conference would convene, and here were sev- 
eral churches to be supplied with spiritual men, 
and they were not to be found. But as to Dale- 
ville, he had purposed that if it were possible 
he would send to that charge Rev. Chas. H. 
True. 



20 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

Bro. True was the ''extreme spiritual" man he 
had suggested to them. He was known as the 
"old fashioned preacher,'' ''Scriptural preacher/' 
and some said that he preached holiness in some 
way in every sermon. One had been so unkind 
as to dub him a hobbyist. But Bro. True was 
known to be a very godly man. It was said of 
him that he spent at least two hours each day 
in private prayer. His pastoral work was also 
of that prayerful type. He seldom visited a 
home without asking God's blessing on it. 

Bro. True was a young man in the ministry, 
but not so young in years. He was not con- 
verted until late in life. Being raised in a poor 
family he did not receive the school training 
he should have received. Hence it was against 
great odds that he had made the advancement 
to his present position. The term, "discourage- 
ment," however, was not a part of his vocabu- 
lary. He was often poring over his books when 
others were asleep. He was sorely conscious of 
his deficiency; but knew full well that others 
had risen in spite of such difficulties, and by 
persistent labor and tireless effort he might also 
win. 

He was not in the least in sympathy with those, 
who, because of their own ignorance, deride 
the schools and scholarly men. He had served 
but two charges, but the character of his work 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 21 

was SO commendable that several churches were 
now asking for him. 

As a preacher he was rapidly advancing. His 
sermon at a district meeting had stirred so staid 
a man as Dr. Strong. His subject was, 'The 
Baptism with the Holy Ghost.'' From a theo- 
logical standpoint he had treated it in a mas- 
terly way. Besides his earnest exhortation to 
the ministry to seek this blessing as a necessary 
condition of heart to obtain the constant favor 
of God, as well as to equip them for the great 
work of soul saving had brought deep convic- 
tion. Then again Brother True had emphasized 
in unmistaken tones the fact that each minister 
had promised as a condition of his entering con- 
ference that he would strive to obtain (by 
''groaning after") this very blessing of which 
he now spoke. 

All this was having its effect on Dr. Strong. 
Many of the things said in that sermon were 
often ringing in his ears. In a special way had 
his reference to the preacher's vows when en- 
tering conference, affected him. Brother True 
had also quoted some of Charles Wesley's hymns 
in substantiating the great doctrine and truth 
he was preaching. Especially had one old 
hymn which has been sung so fervently these 
many years affected him. Somehow it had a 
new and deeper meaning at this time. Brother 



2.2 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

True gave it in that remarkably earnest way 
characteristic of him. 

''Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit 

Into every troubled breast ! 
Let us all in Thee inherit, 

Let us find that second rest. 

Take away our bent to sinning ; 

Alpha and Omega be ; 
End of faith as its beginning, 

Set our hearts at libertv/' 

Many times since Brother True had quoted 
that remarkable verse. Dr. Strong had asked 
himself — probably at the suggestion of the 
Spirit — ''Have I received that second rest?" 
Then at times as one searching deeper into his 
own soul, he would say, "Have I really been 
groaning after it?" "If I have why have I not 
received it?" "Why do I not preach it?" "Did 
not Asbury urge his preachers to continually 
preach it whether or not the people would for- 
bear? May this not after all be the real secret 
of our present failure as a revival church?" 
Surely there is some mysterious truth lingering 
about this teaching. Some remarkable change 
has come over that man True since he attended 
that camp-meeting. His words burn as fire. 
Surely he is "extremely spiritual." 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 23 

The four weeks soon slipped away. Dr. Strong 
had never entered conference so baffled con- 
cerning his appointments as at this time. And 
those who knew him best could discern the bur- 
den of his heart. In the opening prayer that 
he offered there was deep pathos, and a real 
heart cry for help from the Great Spirit who 
alone is able to lead triumphantly in the per- 
plexing problems before us. It was a prayer 
not soon to be forgotten by those present. It 
was really the unburdening of a soul having 
gone to its extremity in doing a work which de- 
mands divine counsel. Few eyes were dry when 
near concluding his prayer he said: ''O Thou, 
who didst move the world with the great Apostle 
of the Gentiles who said, 'This one thing I do,' 
move us at this time out of this coldness and 
lethargy into which some of us have fallen, and 
others are fast sinking. Make us men of one 
mind, men of one mighty purpose! O thou 
God of our fathers, give us back the old time 
power, and fire; which burned the coldness and 
dross out of England during the days of thy 
servant Wesley; who set a world a-going heav- 
enward. Lift us a few leagues at this time 
for thy Great Son's sake.'' Many sobs and a 
chorus of Amens were heard from the vast audi- 
ence. It was also noticeable that a profound con- 
viction settled upon the ministers. Many were 



24 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

searching their hearts as they had not done for 
many a day. 

The work of the conference passed on as usual 
from day to day without anything of special 
interest except the usual ''wire pulling" and se- 
cret consultations with the ''leaders" and men 
of "influence.'' The reports were listened to 
with closest attention by those interested in 
Zion. There had been but few accessions. 
Many excuses were offered for this ; some of 
which were as follows : "A most pecuHar field." 
"The church was dead." "The people worldly," 
etc. One brother ventured the assertion that 
"The devil was very busy on his charge." 

Sunday came and of course the great feature 
of the day was the Bishop's sermon. The large 
auditorium was packed. The singing was in the 
Spirit. The old hymns seemed to possess the 
old time power. The Bishop arose to announce 
his text. He was a handsome man of sixty; 
tall and well proportioned; with a massive fore- 
head. From under those heavy eyebrows there 
shone a pair of piercing gray eyes. His move- 
ments were easy and calm. With a command- 
ing voice he read slowly and carefully his text, 
"And without controversy, great is the mys- 
tery of godliness ; God was manifest in the flesh, 
justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached 
unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, re- 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 25 

ceived up into glory." ]\Iany pronounced the 
sermon a masterpiece. All agreed that it was 
a great discourse. 

The interesting time was to come at the close 
of the evening service when the appointments 
were to be read. There was perfect silence when 
the Bishop arose and slowly and deliberately read 
the names and stations. The expression on some 
faces indicated that their appointment had been 
double, being a rf/j-appointment as well. Others 
were jubilant; while some were mystified; as 
they knew little about their new fields of labor. 

The prayer of old Brother Constant, however, 
was answered, for when the name of Chas. H. 
True was read it was for Daleville. 

But the unexpected, if not almost shocking in- 
formation, was made known when the name of 
Dr. Charm was read as Presiding Elder of River- 
side District ; and Dr. Strong's appointment as 
pastor of First Church, Riverside. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 2^ 



CHAPTER III. 



MISS LEED. 



These were days of much talk and specula- 
tion among the Daleville church people. Indeed, 
the ''outsiders" were manifesting no small inter- 
est. Many realized the deplorable condition of 
the church. It was known that the people of 
the w^orld and those of the church indulged in 
the same pleasures. Most of the young people 
of the church attended many of the public 
dances. Nearly every one attended the theater. 
Card parties seemed to be a mania even among 
the leading members of the league. To be sure, 
there was still a small ''remnant" who had not 
bowed the knee to Baal. These were found 
faithful to the prayer and class meetings. 

Miss Leed was becoming if anything more 
worldly than ever. Being the daughter of a 
wealthy merchant, and possessing a social dis- 
position, she had by common consent taken the 
lead in social circles. She was president of the 
social and literary department of the Epworth 
League. Besides this, she was also the church 
organist. Her influence over the young people 
of Daleville church w^as almost unbounded. The 



28 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

choir was absolutely under her control. The 
pastors had been careful in not saying or doing 
anything that might offend her. While they 
did not approve of many things she did, they 
failed to reprove her, and thus she had become 
the controlling spirit among the young people. 

Her father, while not a member of the church, 
had given liberally to its support. He was also 
pleased in no small degree to have his daughter 
preside at the organ. He had spent much in 
giving her the best possible traming in music; 
so that now it was w^th great delight that he 
sat every Sunday morning admiring his only 
daughter as her masterly fingers made the organ 
fairly speak. 

There was also a sad side to the Leed home 
life. The only son was fast becoming dissipated. 
He was a slave to drink ; besides he was known 
to be a noted gambler. This alone accounted 
for the sad face of the once handsome mother. 
There had been a time in Mrs. Leed's life when 
she was known as an active spiritual Christian. 
But for a number of years she had ceased taking 
any active part whatever in the spiritual de- 
partment of the church work. Indeed, it was 
known that she had told their present pastor that 
the ministry and church had so cl/anged, she 
found but little help in the sermons, and the 
prayer meetings were cold and formal. The only 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 29 

part she really enjoyed was old Brother Con- 
stant's prayers and Grandma Sweet's testimony. 

She had also told some near friends that she 
believed, were they to preach to-day as they did 
when she was young, that her son would not be 
where he then w^as. But she was a woman of a 
reticent disposition, and most of her troubles 
were buried deep in her soul; their presence 
being known only by the sad lines which were 
slowly but surely fixing themselves in her hand- 
some features. 

j\Iiss Leed had more than once manifested 
deep sorrow over her brother's condition, and did 
much in her way toward reforming him. But 
he was slipping farther and farther from her 
grasp and influence. Still it was known that 
''Brother Rob,'' as he was called, thought very 
much of Sister Maud, and was really proud of 
her musical attainments, as well hs her personal 
beauty. One remark he had made to his mother 
when Maud was taken into the church some 
years before had never left her mmd. Often 
had she brooded over those words when seeing 
her daughter's lightness and fondness for the 
empty things of life. It was after their return 
from the morning service at the time referred 
to. 

''Mother," said he, ''there is no religion in that 
kind of performance. When I get religion I 



30 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

want the real thing or none at all. Maud ain't 
converted." The mother was shrewd enough 
and possessed spiritual discernment enough to 
know that her son was stating the truth. So in 
her quiet way she told him that she was in hopes 
Maud would see her need of a genuine conver- 
sion before long, and that he must encourage 
her as much as possible, so as not to become 
in any way a hindrance to her. 

Miss Leed had not seen Ruth Norden since 
the evening they met and she had told her of 
the visit to her aunt's. So their first meeting 
was at church the Sunday morning following. 
Miss Leed, ever ready in conversation, was the 
first to speak. 

*'Why, Ruth, we missed you at the card party 
Thursday evening. What was the trouble? I 
hope you were not sick. We just had the love- 
liest time. The crowd was larger than usual ; 
several new young men were there. Some of 
them strangers to you, I think. I had met most 
of them at the ball. There was Mr. Slick — and 
Mr. Fast — a lovely young man, by the way. And 
then there was Mr. Binghizer " 

''Why, Maud, you don't mean to say that Mr. 
Binghizer was there ! Did you not know he was 
the saloonkeeper's son down on Front street?" 

''Why, yes, Ruth; I knew that. But then— 
you have never met him. He is a real gentleman 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 3 1 

in manners and so social in disposition. Why, 
I am sure you would be more than delighted 
with him. But tell me, where were you Thurs- 
day evening? We missed you so/' 

"Well, Maud, that night we had the talk, 
when you told me of your visit to your aunt's in 
Iowa, I went home, and when I got into my 
room I hunted for my Bible, which I had not 
read for some time. I wanted to find that 
preacher's text you spoke of. And do you know, 
I found it in the Sermon on the Mount! It is 
the last verse of the fifth chapter. Just think, 
Maud! Jesus himself said, 'Be ye therefore per- 
fect, even as your Father which is in heaven is 
perfect.' '' 

''Yes, that is the verse, Ruth. I remember 
well." 

"Well, Maud, I read the whole chapter, and 
there it speaks of being pure in heart, so that 
we may see God. And then we are told also 
to let our light so shine before men that they 
may see our good works and glorify our Father 
which is in heaven ; and to 'love' our enemies. 
Why, Maud, you must read that chapter. I 
never heard our pastor say much about it. It is 
so much plainer than he preaches. Well, Maud, 
I made up my mind that very night that my 
light could not shine much at a card party; so 
I called on Grandma Sweet just before church 



;^2 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

time, and asked her if I might not help her go 
to prayer meeting. She is so lame. You know, 
Maud, that unless some one assists her she can't 
go at all. She was so pleased, her dear old 
face just lit up and she said : 'I am so very, very 
glad you came, Ruth, dear. I did so much de- 
sire to go to prayer meeting to-night, and now 
you have come in answer to my prayer to assist 
me. Now, Ruth, you lean on Jesus, as I will 
lean on your strong arm, and you will never be 
disappointed,' she said as we went walking along 
together. Well, I went, and you don't know 
how glad I am that I did. Here comes our 
pastor and we must be gettmg ready to sing." 

During Ruth's plain but pointed talk to Miss 
Leed the latter had listened in utmost astonish- 
ment. She had never heard Ruth speak so de- 
cidedly before. Her words fairly burned into 
Maud's heart. Then there was that settled de- 
termination of purpose that is usually expressed 
in the lines of the face much better than told 
in words. Ruth heretofore was a willing serv- 
ant to most anything Miss Leed might suggest. 
But now she had risen far above the other be- 
cause of a mysterious something that comes as a 
result of the soul's surrender to the unseen power 
that moves men and makes them superior to 
their surroundings, and entire masters of their 
environment. And yet Ruth never spoke in a 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. ^^ 

kinder manner, nor did her face ever look so 
calm and restful. In reality she had changed 
worlds. The realm in which she now moved 
was far above that of any former experience she 
had ever known. Her sweet soprano voice 
seemed charged with heavenly fire that Sabbath 
morning. The pastor had given out the old 
familiar hymn, 

'^Majestic sweetness sits enthroned 

Upon the Saviour's brow ; 
His head with radiant glory crowned, 

His lips with grace o'erflow." 

Quite a number in the audience were noticed 
wiping away the silent tears that came unbidden. 
When she came to the words, 

''No mortal can with him compare 

Among the sons of men ; 
Fairer is he than all the fair 

That fill the heavenly train,'' 

Old Brother Constant and Grandma Sweet could 
scarcely refrain from giving audible expression 
to their feelings. Ruth had learned the secret 
— to her the song was true; yes, it was more, 
it was a conscious reality. 

It was evident to those familiar with the ex- 
pressions of Miss Leed's face that something 



34 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

unusual was passing through her mind. While 
she loved good music, and especially good sing- 
ing, there was something in Ruth's voice that 
Sabbath morning that mystified her. As she 
had been a short time before astonished at her 
talk, she was now astonished at her singing. 
Indeed, there was more than simple astonish- 
ment. There w^as real perplexity of mind. Miss 
Leed's past life had never so presented itself to 
her as it did this memorable morning. The 
vision of her mother's sad face, her brother's dis- 
sipated visage, and even the giddy faces at the 
card party seemed to pass before her in a reg- 
ular procession of tormentors. In a peculiar way 
did that portion of Scripture quoted by Ruth 
fasten itself on her mind: ''Let your light so 
shine before men." She tried to dismiss it from 
her mind, but in vain. Back it would come to 
haunt her with renewed energy. 

''Had she a light?" "And did it shine?" were 
the questions that were forcing themselves upon 
her perplexed mind. 

The sermon was to her that morning a per- 
fect blank. She did not even hear the announce- 
ments, the text, or one point in the sermon. 
New thoughts were crowding her mind that in 
the near future were to bring a radical change 
into her life. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 35 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE NEW PREACHER. 

The arrival of Rev. Chas. H. True at Dah- 
ville was a memorable event. The coming of the 
new preacher had been so thoroughly discussed 
by nearly every one that expectation was at a 
high mark. The young people, especially, were 
anxious to see and hear their new spiritual ad- 
viser. Then there was a curiosity to learn just 
how an ''Extremely Spiritual" man would con- 
duct himself. The new title appeared to pos- 
sess a mystified something about it which no 
one seemed able to intelligently explain. Even 
Sam Black, the professed infidel, was heard to 
say that he would like to see the new teacher of 
superstition. The saloonkeepers had asked to 
have him pointed out to them. 

Sunday morning came and the church was 
packed with an anxious throng. Every member 
of the choir looked their best and were in their 
places. Miss Leed was decidedly anxious and 
showed some signs of nervousness in the vol- 
untary she played. Old Brother Constant looked 
jubilant. To him it was the dawning of a better 
day. Old Grandma Sweet came limping down 



36 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

the aisle with a* look of satisfaction upon her 
face. Ruth Norden was glad and her face was 
the picture of restfulness. Brother Waverly 
sat in his pew prepared to weigh and measure the 
new pastor. The epithet ''Extremely Spiritual" 
had made him somewhat skeptical regarding the 
new man. He was not noted for spirituality; 
in fact, it was known that the worldly minded 
preachers were his favorites. 

When the new pastor entered the pulpit he 
knelt for some time in silent prayer. This had 
the effect of bringing a subdued silence over the 
entire assembly. It was something new in the 
Daleville pulpit for the pastor to kneel, especial- 
ly before the regular public prayer. In fact, sev- 
eral of the late pastors thought it more dignified 
to stand while praying. The first hymn was an- 
nounced, and then read with reverent earnest- 
ness. Every word seemed to possess a new mean- 
ing to those familiar with it. It was evident 
that the reader believed every line. If he had 
composed it while reading, it could not have 
been more real. With a voice which required no 
effort to be heard, the preacher read: 

''Let worldly minds the world pursue ; 

It has no charm for me ; 
Once I admired its trifles, too, 

But grace hath set me free. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 37 

''Its pleasures can no longer please, 

Nor happiness afiford ; 
Far from my heart be joys like these, 

Now I have seen the Lord." 

It seemed to be the very hymn that expressed 
Ruth Norden's heart experience. As she sang, it 
was evident to all that one at least in the choir 
was enjoying that hymn. 

The prayer that followed brought tears to 
nearly every eye in the large audience. Old 
Brother Constant had also broken the regula- 
tions of years. Several times he was heard to 
say "Amen!" most heartily. Dear old Grandma 
Sweet was once overcome, and in a voice loud 
and clear cried out, 'Traise the Lord!" Every 
one was convinced that the preacher knew God. 
Then there w^as such scope to the prayer; all 
present felt that the man praying had a special 
interest in them. Every heart's need was 
touched upon ; and yet not over five or six min- 
utes were spent in offering the petition. 

Brother True announced his text from the sec- 
ond chapter of I. Corinthians, the second verse : 
'Tor I am determined not to know anything 
among you save Jesus Christ and him cruci- 
fied." 

We cannot stop here to give the excellent di- 
visions and effectual applications made by the 



38 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

preacher. Suffice it to say at this time that all 
were convinced that the new preacher meant to 
do good, and that many who were members of 
that church w^ere a long distance from what is 
implied in being a genuine Christian. 

Brother Waverly was seen to hasten out at 
the close of the service — not even stopping to 
get acquainted with the new pastor. 

At the evening service the crowd was still 
larger. Many who wxre not in the habit of 
attending church were crowding in. Even Joe 
Smith, the old drunken blacksmith, was there, 
wearing his red and black check shirt. Quite 
a number had to stand, vvhile some who came 
a little late could not even enter. 

The preacher dealt with the subject of sin. 
Its heinousness was portrayed in a very vivid 
manner. Then he dwelt upon its true charac- 
ter — its deep-seated nature in the human heart; 
its deceitfulness manifested in so many ways. 
In concluding he said that Jesus came to destroy 
sin. His purpose was to eliminate it from the 
obedient, self-surrendered soul. 'T am here," 
said he, ''to proclaim to you an Almighty Saviour, 
one who can completely cure the disease of sin. 
The Saviour invites you now, this very night, to 
come, that you may prove this great salvation. 
The Man of Galilee has never failed to cure a 
case intrusted to him. It matters not how^ vile 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 39 

you may be. It matters not what your past 
record has been. He came to seek and to save 
the lost. He is seeking you now, my brother. 
Why will you tarry and thus permit the enemy 
of your soul to drag you down to eternal dark- 
ness and despair? Do you not see the people 
dying about you ? Do you not hear the cries and 
wails of the helpless victims of habit? Young 
man, your doom will soon be sealed if you turn 
not from that intoxicating cup. Fathers, you are 
on the slippery way to the bottomless abyss. 
The great veil which separates time from eter- 
nity will soon be lowered, and you will be on 
the eternity side. It will avail you nought to 
pray then. Oh, hasten now ! The Saviour calls ! 

*'With tearful eyes I look around, 
Life seems a dark and stormy sea; 

Yet 'midst the gloom I hear a sound, 
A heavenly whisper, 'Come to me.' " 

The great audience was spellbound under this 
message from the skies. The like had never been 
heard in Daleville up to this time. The face of 
Miss Leed as she sat at the organ was pale with 
fear. Strong men were seen to weep. Poor old 
Joe Smith cried and sobbed. Finally the preach- 
er, as one inspired from on high, said : "Let the 
congregation rise, and come, poor, dying soul. 



40 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

before your last call is given. Come while we 



sing 



And then, as though his voice and lips were 
a flame of holy song, his melodious voice rang 
out: 

• 
''Come, every soul by sin oppressed, 

There's mercy with the Lord; 

And he will surely give you rest 

By trusting in his word.'' 

The effect was magical. Before the last line 
was reached in the first verse, poor old Joe 
Smith was seen coming down the crowded aisle, 
v/hile the astonished throng endeavored to make 
way for him. The pastor stepped over the altar 
rail and there met him. Clasping his large, hard 
hand in his, they both knelt at the altar together. 
Quickly instructing him to remain there while 
he continued the invitation, he again mounted 
the platform, singing: 

''Come to Jesus ! Come to Jesus,'' etc. 

Several young men now stepped to the front, 
their cheeks wet with penitential tears. Down 
they knelt beside old Joe. A moment later the 
vast congregation was seated while old Brother 
Constant and a few of the spiritual members 
surrounded the altar for prayer. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 4I 

Such a time — and such a victory ! Some arose 
and left. Others remained in astonishment. 
An hour later the first Sunday evening service 
by the new pastor came to a close, while the 
amazed audience returned to their homes, say- 
ing, ''VVe never saw it on this wise before.'' 

Monday was a busy day for the new pastor. 
Poor old Joe must be seen and looked after. 
Brother Constant had told the pastor about Joe's 
weakness for drink. So he hastened early to the 
shop to see him, that he might give him some 
necessary instruction. But the shop was locked. 
Upon inquiry he learned where Joe lived, and 
soon was at his door. Before knocking he was 
attracted by a voice. lie listened, and behold, 
it is Joe's voice praying mightily that God would 
save his poor wife and reckless boys. 

What a contrast in that home within so short 
a time ! Last night a drunkard — to-day winning 
souls ! When the prayer ceased the pastor gently 
knocked, when quickly Joe opened the door, ex- 
claiming at the same time : ''Come in, come in ! 
I am so glad you came. I am trying to get my 
wife to pray with me. I want her to find this 
that I got last night. Oh, you don't know, Mr. 
Preacher, how good my wife has been to me. 
I have been a bad man. I drank whisky and 
played poker^ and I was mean when I was drunk. 
Oh, I want my wife to get this same kind that 



42 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

I got last night ! Oh, you don't know how glad 
I feel ! I think sure God sent you here to preach 
to me. Now I want to help you save my boys 
and my friends. Oh, Mr. Preacher, you are 
the first preacher that ever came into my house. 
Won't you pray with my poor wife ?'' 

Brother True's heart was moved by the peti- 
tion of this earnest, though dissipated man. He 
prayed with the poor woman, asking God in a 
most earnest way to save her. He then gave her 
the proper instruction, and soon she was at peace 
with God. 

Surely this was a remarkable beginning in 
Daleville. But Brother True did not in the least 
appear surprised at anything that happened. To 
him it was a constant expectation that God would 
honor his faith and answer his prayers. 

Some notable changes took place in Joe 
Smith's shop that day. All the old jugs and bot- 
tles which had accumulated there during the 
years were taken out and broken. Several old 
pipes and tobacco boxes were burned. A notice 
was neatly painted and securely fastened which 
read as follows : 

*7oe Smith — Lost for fifty years. Found 
Sunday night at the Methodist Church, Oct. 22. 
Inquire within.'' 

This, of course, attracted wide attention, and 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 43 

many came to see the man who had been so 
long lost, but was now found. 

To say that Daleville was stirred over the Sun- 
day night meeting is putting it mildly indeed. 
Every one appeared to be talking about it, and 
the conversion of Joe Smith. But the devil was 
not going to permit such victories w^ithout a stub- 
born resistance. Ihis was confirmed by what 
took place a few days later. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 45 



CHAPTER V 



A TRAGEDY. 



Charles True did not yet realize what the fu- 
ture had in store for him in Daleville. Some 
forces and influences were set at work as a re- 
sult of that first Sunday, which were to stir that 
little city from center to circumference. Indeed, 
that conference, if not the whole of Methodism, 
was to feel the influence of that person termed 
by Dr. Strong an "Extremely Spiritual" man, 
but who in reality, as well as scripturally, was 
a sanctified man, baptized with the Holy Ghost, 
fully surrendered to the will of his God. 

It may be well to explain to the reader right 
here that Brother True had two and a half years 
previous to this time attended the Holiness As- 
sociation camp meeting in a sister state. 

It was his first attendance at such a meeting, 
although he had read and heard some things 
concerning the work of the National and State 
Associations. But most of this information had 
come from persons and sources entirely out of 
sympathy with the work of scriptural holiness 
as taught in Methodist standards. So it was not 
strange that it was with some prejudice in his 



46 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

heart that he sat and listened for the first time 
to a noted hoHness evangelist at the camp meet- 
ing referred to. 

But Brother True knew the Scriptures as well 
as Methodist standards, and when that preacher 
began to unfold in a most masterly way the deep 
things of the Word, pomting out the fact and 
nature of sin as a principle in the heart as well 
as sins of commission and omission in thought 
and deed, he was not slow in seeing the force 
of the truth. 

He had not been there long until God, through 
the agency of the Holy Spirit, revealed to him 
the real heinousness of the inbred sin in his own 
soul. So, like a true man, faithful to his con- 
victions, he took his place at the mourner's 
bench, humbly beseeching God, for the sake of 
his Son, to sanctify him wholly. The struggles 
at that never-to-be-forgotten camp meeting are 
better understood than told. It was to him the 
entering of a new world and the reception of a 
new experience which was to make him a potent 
force in the kingdom of his Lord. 

Up to this time he had said but little about 
this remarkable change which had come to him, 
except to people under his charge. 

It was true he had preached on the Baptism 
with the Holy Spirit before the district meeting, 
and had at that time referred to the camp meet- 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 47 

ing which he had attended and the consecra- 
tion he had made to God. The greater part of 
his time had been spent in studying the doc- 
trine both in the Scriptures and in the books of 
late authors, as well as reviewing the standards 
of his church. 

He was aware of the fact that one might pos- 
sess a very remarkable heart knowledge of the 
deeper truths of the Gospel and yet be a very 
incompetent teacher. So he had determined to 
make a most thorough study of the subject .that 
he might wisely as well as intelligently teach oth- 
ers. Dr. Strong had a keen insight into the 
spiritual natures of men. He had not been slow 
in discerning the change which had come over 
Brother True. But, like most men who are not 
in the experience of entire sanctification, he was 
not ready to give it its proper name. So he 
usually referred to Brother True as the ''ex- 
tremely spiritual" man. Indeed, he was well 
known in Riverside district by that epithet. The 
only man who was heard in any way to make 
light of Brother True and the sermon which he 
had preached at the district meeting was Dr. 
Charm. He had spoken of him to some of the 
brethren as an ''emotional fanatic'' and "on the 
road to cranktification." 

We now see that Brother True was entering 
upon this new field of labor prepared to preach 



48 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

and teach this doctrine and experience which 
had really given birth to the church of which he 
was a minister. 

The conversion of Joe Smith had aroused no 
small interest, as wxll as much opposition among 
the saloon element. Heretofore the church had 
not interfered in any serious way with their 
business. In fact, the former pastors had been 
almost silent on the question of intemperance. 
But who is this man that succeeds in capturing 
one of their best customers, the first Sunday 
evening that he is in their city? Several who 
had attended the service of that evening were 
heard speaking strongly against the unrighteous 
traffic. Others who were bolder vowed their in- 
tention of casting their vote and influence in 
disposing of the saloons entirely. 

This had, as might be expected, brought down 
the wrath and curses of the saloon tribe on the 
new preacher and his work. 

August Binghizer^s saloon was the largest in 
the city. It was headquarters for the sports and 
toughs of the tow^n. A gambling room being in 
connection with it, made it a favorable resort 
for that class and for planning their dark and 
hellish deeds. It was in this saloon, beautified 
with frescoed ceilings, costly mirrors, cut glass, 
polished furniture, fragrant plants and a marble 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 49 

bar that many a talented young man had been 
induced to take his first drink. 

Here it was that Rob Leed spent most of his 
time. It was here he had spent thousands of 
dollars of his father's money. In the dark room 
in connection with it he had sat night after 
night for several years past, fascinated and dis- 
sipated with that king of sporting games, 
"poker." 

He had not only spent thousands of dollars 
himself, but his very presence and business in 
that place was adding greatly to the revenues of 
the proprietor. Many noted gamblers came from 
long distances to ''sw^ap luck'' with the Dalevillc 
"sharper." 

Joe Smith had spent a good fortune over the 
bar of this same saloon. The time had been 
when Joe was "well fixed," and things were com- 
ing "his way." When Daleville was quite new 
Joe had settled there, and had reaped the benefits 
resulting from the former boom, as well as the 
general prosperity of the times. But, like many 
others, he could not endure the good fortune so 
suddenly thrust upon him. Being associated in 
his business w^ith many drinking men, he yield- 
ed to the tempter and discovered when too late 
that he was bound soul and body with unbreak- 
able bands by King Alcohol. He soon became a 
confirmed drunkard and a hopeless wreck. 



50 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

His property he was forced to mortgage in or- 
der to carry on his business. In time this was 
foreclosed and Joe's property was gone. He 
now rented a little shack of a building which 
served him as a shop. 

Joe had two sons, Tom and Bill, who, follow- 
ing in their father's footsteps, were fast ap- 
proaching a drunkard's doom. 

August Binghizer was a shrewd old German, 
who lived in luxury in a most beautiful mansion 
situated on the highest elevation in town. From 
this conspicuous hill one could behold the rich, 
fertile valley below, through which the meander- 
ing river lazily moved on toward the great sea. 
Little time did he spend in the saloon. Being 
interested in several large breweries, he was 
often away weeks at a time. His son had general 
supervision of his business in Daleville, being 
assisted by a husky bartender whom they called 
"Peeler." 

Tom Smith was known as a large-hearted, 
good-natured fellow, who never did any one an 
intentional injury. He had learned the trade 
with his father. Physically he was a man of 
superior strength. He would go weeks at a 
time without touching any liquor. Then, as if 
possessed with some internal fire he could not 
quench, he would drink for days. 

His father's conversion had greatly affected 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 5 1 

him. He had not forgotten the prosperous days 
gone by, and was still much attached to "dad/' 
as they called him. 

*'Dad/' said he, one morning as they were at 
work, and Tom felt the burning within and knew 
what it meant, ''dad, I wish I could get what you 
did at the church the other night. I know it 
would please mother so to have me quit the 
cursed drink business. But I guess the stuff is 
off with me, dad.'' 

"Tom,'' said his father, "I am mighty glad 
you have that wish. I have been asking my great 
Father to help you. Just you ask him, Tom." 

Tom was very serious that day. About four 
o'clock in the afternoon he made some excuse for 
going uptown, and was not seen again until late 
that night, when his father went to see whether 
he might not find him and bring him home. 

Brother True had met Tom that evening and 
saw that he had been drinking. Fearing lest it 
become a snare to the father, he was on the street 
late that night keeping a sharp eye on the sa- 
loons. 

As Joe Smith drew near to Binghizer's saloon 
he could hear Tom's voice speaking loudly as if 
greatly disturbed. Fie soon discovered that some 
difficulty had arisen between Tom and young 
Binghizer. From what he could gather young 
Binghizer had threatened to throw Tom out, be- 



52 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

sides he had insulted him and his ''dad" by call- 
ing them ''old drunken blacksmiths." 

This was more than Tom could endure, and so 
he had proceeded to "trim him up/" as he put it. 

"What! you call my Dad a drunkard! You, 
who have taken over this bar twenty thousand 
dollars of his money! You! you little Dutch- 
man ! Why I have half a notion to step on you, 
and rub you into this floor. You talk about 
throwing me out of this here saloon ! Your whole 
family wouldn't make a square meal for a Smith." 

"Peeler" tried to get young Binghizer to 
quietly step into the next room, for he knew 
that if Tom Smith were to place his hands upon 
him, it would mean a tremendous threshing. 

Besides "Peeler" knew that since Joe's con- 
version, young Binghizer had sworn vengeance 
on the Smiths and on the "new parson" as well. 
For Joe Smith had given certain information 
concerning the "joint" that was run there, which 
might at any time give the Binghizers endless 
trouble. 

The loud talk had brought Rob Leed upon the 
scene from an adjoining room. He thought a 
great deal of Tom and was trying to quiet him. 
But young Binghizer hated to be called down 
by Tom Smith and had told him that if he did 
not leave, he would "split his head open for 
him." 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 53 

This was too much for Tom. ''You spUt my 
head open? If you come out from behind that 
bar I will introduce you to Tom Smith, and guar- 
antee you a warm re — .'' But the sentence 
was never finished ; for a heavy glass thrust vio- 
lently from the hand of young Binghizer had 
done its deadly work, breaking into fragments as 
it crashed against Tom's head. His Herculean 
frame reeled and staggered, and before Rob 
Leed could reach him he fell heavily to the floor. 

In an instant Rob Leed, Joe Smith and Charles 
True, were at his side. 

No one seemed to know where True came 
from, but as quickly he again disappeared, and 
a moment later was urging the doctor to make 
all possible haste to Binghizer's saloon. 

A few seconds later they both entered while 
the gathered throng scattered like Autumn leaves 
before the wind, as the swiftly moving preacher 
cried, "Alake room ! make room ! The man is 
dying!" 

Upon examination it was learned that there 
was a slight fracture of the skull. Instructions 
were quickly given carefully to remove the 
wounded man to his home. 

Young Binghizer was taken in charge by the 
proper officers and carefully locked in jail. 

It was two days later when Tom Smith re- 
gained consciousness. His appearance was that 



54 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 







"His herculean frame reeled and staggered and before 
Bob Leed could reach him he fell heavilj^ to the floor." 
Paere 53. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 55 

of a man coming out of a horrible nightmare. 
His dark eyes were wild if not fierce. 

Charles True was at the bedside with the mem- 
bers of the family. Old Brother Constant and 
Ruth Norden were also present. 

Tom's first words fairly startled them. 

'T have been among the demons and just got 
back. One of them struck me on my head. 
How it does pain me." 

He was about to place his hand, on the wound, 
but was too weak to raise it. 

''Dad, I am glad you did not go along, for 
you are not so strong, and they would have 
got you, sure." 

His father spoke kindly to him, saying that 
he was now safe at home with father and mother. 

"Do you think I must die?" he asked, with 
a far away, anxious look in his dark eyes. His 
father again endeavored to calm him, while the 
mother sank upon the couch, burying her face 
in a pillow. 

Catching a glimpse of Brother True, he said 
faintly : 

'Treacher, do you think I must die? Do you 
think I can make it over the river alone?" 

Brother True had never witnessed a scene of 
this character before — but breathing a prayer 
to God for counsel he said: 



56 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

''You need not go alone, Tom. Jesus has 
promised to go with you, if you but ask him.'' 

''You ask him, preacher. I never spoke to 
him. He may not know me.'' 

"Yes, he knows you, Tom. But I will ask him, 
and you may ask him, too." 

Brother True offered a most touching prayer 
which seemed to bring a throng of angels into 
their very presence. 

"I feel some better now. Bill, come closer. 
I want to talk with you. We have been on the 
wrong road. Bill. I saw the end of the line. 
You better switch off, Bill. Take the road Dad's 
on. That preacher there knows. He can put you 
on it. I tell you, Bill, that was a hard blow 
the demon gave me down there. It pains me 
so." 

The words were enough to crush a heart of 
steel. Brother True ever ready to meet an emer- 
gency sang very softly: 

"There'll be no sorrow there ; 
There'll be no sorrow there. 
In heaven above where all is love, 
There'll be no sorrow there." 

"That will suit us, won't it, mother? We've 
had plenty of it here." 

The mother tried to speak, but her voice would 
not come at her bidding. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 57 

"Mother, you'll help Bill on the right road, 
won't you? We want Bill to go along." 

Tom's mother stepped to his side and for re- 
ply kissed his swollen lips. 

Once more Tom spoke. They were his last 
words on earth, for immediately afterward he 
sank into unconsciousness from which he never 
revived. 

''Don't forget to switch off. Bill. Take the 
road Dad's on !" 

He tried again to speak but could not. 

Bill was two years younger than Tom. They 
had grown up together ; had played together 
when boys; they had always shared one anoth- 
er's trials and had been in sin together. Tom 
had always stood by Bill in every difficulty. And 
now they must part. Bill was too much over- 
come to speak or utter even a word. 

Tom crossed the river that night. Two days 
later he was placed to rest beneath the sighing 
branches of a large elm tree in the hillside cem- 
etery. 

Rob Leed was the last person to leave the 
grave. Long after the throng had left he stood 
in silent meditation beneath the lonely elm. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 59 



CHAPTER VI. 

THE REVIVAL. 

The tragic death of Tom Smith aroused the 
sleeping citizens of Daleville to a consciousness 
of the real character of the saloons and those 
who operated them. Many who had heretofore 
been quite indifferent were now up in arms 
against these dens of vice. It was quite evident 
that the coming spring election would prove a 
warm contest between the two forces, now being 
drawn into line. Brother True was not slow in 
seeing this and realized that much depended on 
his wisdom and tact in leading the temperance 
element. He had not sought this conspicuous 
prominence in connection with the work of in- 
temperance. It had naturally fallen to him as 
a result of his earnest desire to assist those who 
were being grasped by its power. 

The church was now being crowded to its 
utmost capacity. The trustees had purchased 
several dozen new chairs, so that all available 
space might be occupied. But even then it was 
a common thing on Sunday evening for a num- 
ber to be turned away, not being able to secure 
seats. 



6o THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

Brother True was a born general and knew 
when and where to strike. lie was alive to the 
fact that in leading a body of Christian people 
great care was necessary, if a decided victory 
was desired. So he did much planning and also 
exercised his best judgment at all times. He 
realized that a majority of the members of the 
Daleville church were unconverted. Indeed, un- 
der the preaching to which they were accus- 
tomed there had been nothing to create a con- 
viction for sin. Hence it was not strange that 
when he began to press upon them the need of 
holiness many protested against the doctrine 
and the sermons. But he was immovable. He 
would not tone ^ down in the least. Some went 
so far as to leave the church. Brother Slack was 
very active in denouncing the preacher and 
preaching. He did not believe in holiness. Old 
Sister Scandal said such preaching was unen- 
durable. Brother Waverly was open in his re- 
bellion. But Brother True was patient. He 
saw they needed salvation. It was evident that 
they would have to do one of two things — either 
get right with God and man, or withdraw from 
the church. Some had black records of which 
they had never repented. Unpaid debts in other 
States, covered crimes and secret sins must be 
exposed. This kind of preachmg was digging 
them out. It was not pleasant, but necessary. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 6l 

God was speaking. The prophet of the Lord 
must dehver his message. There could be no 
compromise. It would all be revealed at the 
judgment, if not pardoned and cleansed before. 
Soft words had been their rumation. The men 
who had been flattered by them were permitting 
their souls to sink into hell wrapped in sheep's 
clothing. Now they must be unmasked. The 
wolf nature must be exposed. God must be 
obeyed. Without holiness no man could see his 
face. Oftentimes men and women were seen to 
fairly writhe under his searching words in deal- 
ing with sin in all its deceptive forms. But it 
was done with a heart burning with love for 
the sinner. This love could not be concealed. 
The very unction of the Holy One was heard in 
the voice, seen in the face and in every gesture 
he made. But it must be remembered he was a 
wise teacher. He did not antagonize. He made 
no effort to wound feelings. He had seen men 
who seemed to think they were called of God 
to make people angry by preaching holiness, the 
sweetest blessing this side of heaven. To them 
much opposition was always a token of success. 
He believed God, who said, ''He that w^nneth 
souls is wise." He ever sought to make clear 
the various steps in obtaining salvation from 
conviction for sin until glorification at last with 
the redeemed forever. 



62 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

Brother True knew the laws of the mind were 
such that time was often an essential element in 
obtaining the most enduring results in the great 
work of salvation. This was evident to him for 
many reasons. [Man's perception is so impaired 
by the Fall and so beclouded by sin that truth 
is not always readily perceived. For this very 
reason — with some others v^diich we cannot now 
mention — it required fot:r thotisand years to pre- 
pare a world for the promised Sa^'iour. For the 
same reason also we are not instantly plunged 
from the brightness of day into midnight dark- 
ness ; nor from the beauty of a \\ arm June day 
into the cold heart of January. There must first 
be the cool, then colder days of autumn, before 
the stormy days of December. The condition of 
body and mind are such that sudden changes 
are often detrimental, if not fatal. 

This was not in any way an argument against 
instantaneous conversion and sanctification, any 
more than the gradual breaking of day is an ar- 
gument against instantaneous sunrise. Both are 
gradual, and both are instantaneous. Truth 
must be conveved throuoh the mind, and the 
mind, as before stated, is slow in comprehending 
the truth. God can and often does remark- 
able things for men suddenly, as in the case of 
Paul : but even that prostrated him for days ; 
besides, he was smitten with blindness. "Faith 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 63 

comes by hearing and hearing by the word of 
God." 

All this showed that Brother True was a wise 
leader and a patient teacher. He loved those 
whom God had placed under his care. With 
Peter he felt that he was called to feed the flock 
of God. 

In the Sunday evening service he usually 
adopted a somewhat different method than the 
one pursued in the morning. Here he directed 
the message more to the conscience than to the 
intellect. Salvation was offered and men urged 
to immediate decision. Oftentimes the last ten 
minutes of his discourse would consist of a flame 
of holy exhortation, until men were filled with 
awe and fear under his burning words. In this 
way conversions were a common occurrence in 
those services. Indeed, with his apt illustrations 
he so vividly pictured before the mind Gospel 
truth that the simplest one in the audience could 
see its force. 

Brother True also saw that in order to win the 
unconverted and non-church going people it was 
necessary for the pastor to seek their acquaint- 
ance, win their respect and in some way come 
in touch with them. He was too wise, however, 
to be ''roped in," as many ministers are at the 
present day. The argument so often presented 
that it is necessary for the minister to become 



64 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

a member of the fraternal organizations and va- 
rious lodges had no weight with him. He could 
see clearly that it would only cripple him and 
destroy his influence as well over these same 
men if he were to stoop to the many pernicious 
performances of the lodge room. 

He believed the preacher of the Gospel to 
be a prophet of God ; an anointed servant of the 
Most High ; one who had to do with holy things, 
and hence must avoid every unholy association 
and every unholy brotherhood. So Brother True 
had, in making a perfect consecration to God 
at the time of his sanctification, severed all con- 
nection with every unholy alliance, and "J^^us 
only'' had become his constant motto. 

To his mind there was a much better method 
of gaining a firm grip on the better natures of 
these men. It was his unswerving purpose con- 
tinually to impress all that his supreme busi- 
ness was to save men from sin by pointing them 
to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin 
of the world. So he was often heard to say, 

'Tis all my business here below 
To cry, behold the Lamb. 

Rather than enter into their fellowship in the 
ways and methods of the lodge loom, he called 
at their homes, oftentimes spending a few mo- 
ments in the evening when the husband was with 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. '65 

his family. His conversation was usually brief, 
and as near the point as he thought advisable 
under the circumstances. He knew that no pre- 
scribed rule would work in each home, but that 
sanctified common sense must be exercised in 
every instance. 

So one day when he called on Sam Black, the 
infidel, he did not even suggest prayer. He was 
conscious that to do so would only enrage the 
unbeliever. About ten minutes were spent in 
pleasant conversation about the familiar topics 
of the day. He then invited Sam to come and 
hear him preach, quietly taking his departure at 
the same time. This was a surprise to the in- 
fidel, who was bent on having an argument with 
the ''new preacher." 

Before the time for special meetings Brother 
True had called in many scores of homes in the 
city. This was, to be sure, a great task ; but he 
was looking for great results and knew they did 
not come easily. These people had seen his face 
and heard his voice in a word of prayer, and 
felt he had an interest in them. 

It was in this way, and with these methods 
that Charles True succeeded inside of a few 
weeks' time in completely winning the hearts of 
his congregation. He knew that before this was 
accomplished it was in vain to look for perma- 
nent results and sweeping victory. The time 



66 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

now seemed propitious for opening a battle royal 
against sin and every form of unrighteousness. 
The first of January had been decided upon as 
the time to begin special meetings. 

Brother True had succeeded in winning the re- 
spect and esteem of ]\Iiss Leed, Indeed, since 
the death of Tom Smith she had not attended a 
single card party. He had called at her home 
several times ; had prayed with her and her 
mother. He now arranged with her to take 
charge of the music, with the efficient assistance 
of Ruth Xorden and as many of the young peo- 
ple as would sing. 

This w^as a tactful move on the part of the 
pastor. This special responsibility which he 
placed upon Miss Leed was the means of greatly 
convicting her of her need for genuine salvation. 
She soon discovered that to live as she had was 
only the basest hypocrisy, and for her now to 
become leader of song in a revival meeting, while 
not conscious of any change of heart, was to her 
mind almost a sacrilegious act. The first night 
of the meeting she experienced the greatest strug- 
gle of her life up to this time. 

Brother True had preached a most convincing 
and clear-cut sermon on perfect consecration, 
which added much to her already burdened 
heart. When the altar call was given some un- 
known powxr was urging her to surrender to 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 6/ 

God, but her courage failed an<l she did not 
move. It was while they were singing — 

''Here I give my all to thee, 
Friends and time and earthly store,'' 

That Ruth Norden, who was kneeling near where 
Maud Leed sat, quietly arose and, stepping to 
Maud's side, placed her arm about her and soft- 
ly whispered, ''Maud^ dear, the Saviour calls you 
tc-night. He has a work for you. Come, dear, 
settle it now." 

Ruth knew Maud as few did. She had been 
much in her company and understood when and 
how to speak. Then the kind manner in which 
she approached her was so winning and so un- 
like the sudden, impulsive way of many. 

Maud's heart was now melting within her. 
She was discovering how sinful she really was ; 
how awful the past did now appear. Was it 
possible the Saviour would forgive her all the 
mean things she had said and done? The con- 
versation she had had with Ruth about her 
aunt's pastor was a horrid mental picture before 
her. She remembered how she had made light 
of the altar scene, and the dear old lady who 
had shouted. And how horrid those card par- 
ties did now seem ; especially the one young 



68 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

Binghizer, who was now in jail for murder, at- 
tended. Then there was the picture of the ball 
room, where she had spent many long nights in 
company with some who were vile; and that,- 
against her mother's wishes, whose head was 
then gray from sorrow. She had not believed 
that one could become so sinful. As she thought 
on these things her whole being became entire- 
ly helpless. She realized that she was about to 
fall, but could not prevent it. She tried to cry 
out for help, but her tongue seemed to cleave 
to the roof of her mouth. Ruth grasped the sit- 
uation, but was not able to prevent her from sink- 
ing to the floor, limp and still. She then has- 
tened to tell her pastor, who was busy with seek- 
ers at the altar. He told Ruth she need not wor- 
ry, as God was caring for Maud. ''See that no 
one interferes with her, Ruth, and pray for her.'' 
Ruth did pray as she never had prayed before. 
Sobs and cries were heard throughout the entire 
audience. God had truly visited his people. 
The prayers of the faithful pastor had been 
heard. A revival was on in Daleville. 

Maud remained in this apparent unconscious 
condition for about twenty minutes; then lift- 
ing her white hands high over her head, while 
she appeared to be looking into the very face of 
Jesus, she cried : 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 69 

''I surrender all, I surrender all ; 
All to thee, my blessed Saviour, 
I surrender all." 

Brother True saw it was genuine and immedi- 
ately began singing : 

'' 'Tis done, the great transaction's done, 
I am my Lord's and he is mine." 

Every one was sobbing; some were on their 
faces on the floor, others were standing praising 
God. It was indeed a vale of Joyful tears. 

This was a remarkable opening of the meet- 
ings. But it was the result of many hours and 
days of fervent prayers, and the best of plan- 
ning, preaching and arranging. 

Maud Leed's conversion was a signal victory 
for the Daleville church. Perhaps no other per- 
son wielded so great an influence as she among 
the young people of the city. Being an accom- 
plished musician, she had become a very success- 
ful teacher. Her large class of young people 
delighted in her. 

■\lany of these were present upon this first 
night of the meeting and witnessed her remark- 
able conversion. Her testimony that same even- 
ing created no small sensation among the young 
ladies who were present. Possessing an ener- 
getic disposition and much natural force of 



70 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

character, it was not strange that when she be- 
came fired with a spirit and hfe born of God 
that her influence was widely felt. 

When she arose to speak it seemed that some 
strange spirit possessed the audience. Somehow 
it was so unexpected and so unusual to hear 
Maud Leed speak in a meeting of that kind. 
But God had touched her soul and tongue that 
night for a purpose. With a voice moved with 
emotion she said: 

''It is with deep regret, as well as wuth a 
new born delight, that I rise to speak to you to- 
night. My regret is over the unprofitable life 
which I have led up to this time. I have lived 
for selfish purposes and for gratifying selfish 
desires. Besides my influence has been detri- 
mental to my associates. I want to ask the par- 
don of all the young people here to-night w4th 
v/hom I have been associated. I have been 
guilty of leading many of them into the follies 
of life whom I might have led to higher and 
better things. God has forgiven me. Again I 
ask your forgiveness. I delight to speak to- 
night, because I have entered upon a new life. 
I have been born from above. I have seen Jesus 
to-night; and now he is everything to me. I 
always thought it strange that Paul saw^ Jesus 
on his road to Damascus ; but now it is no more 
strange. I saw him to-night in this church. Oh, 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. J\ 

friends! if you could but see him. He is of a 
truth the one altogether lovely. Come to him, 
dear friends ; surrender now while you may ! I 
have made a complete surrender to-night, and 
will trust him evermore." 

Maud's testimony was the strongest sermon 
ever preached in that church, so far as its in- 
fluence on the young was concerned. This was 
evident during the three weeks which followed. 

Maud and Ruth now went to work in earnest. 
They called at the homes of many of the young 
people, inviting them to the meetings. They or- 
ganized a special prayer meeting and met at 4 
o'clock each afternoon. They arranged a large 
chorus of young voices for singing ; and it was a 
benediction to hear them. The interest increased 
each day. Many came to church who had never 
been seen there before. Business men were con- 
verted, backsliders were reclaimed, and many 
were sanctified wholly. 

Brother True preached against every form of 
sin and was very definite in his preaching and 
thorough in his altar work. For this reason he 
met with severe opposition from a few of the- 
members. Brother Waverly became rebellious in 
the extreme, and said some very unkind things 
about the pastor. He spoke of him as ''narrow 
old piety," and the ''disturber of the peace in 
the church." In talking with Brother Slack 



y2 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

about the meeting he said : 'This has always 
been a quiet, peaceful church until this old piety 
came here. He is forever talking about holiness 
and perfection and sanctification. He even 
thinks it wrong to use a little tobacco. I never 
did smoke more than five or six cigars a day; 
besides, what business of his is it whether or not 
1 smoke? I guess I pay for my cigars. Then 
he wants people to tithe — as though one must 
give ten per cent of his income to him. Even 
the circus seems to bother him. I guess I will 
attend circus if I want to. I tell you, Brother 
Slack, I liked Dr. Swift we had here. He be- 
longed to our lodge, and used to deliver an ad- 
dress for us every year. Then I never heard 
him once mention sanctification. But, by the 
way, Brother Slack, you need not mention it, 
but I have written a letter to Dr. Charm, our 
presiding elder, which I think will stir things 
some. Dr. Charm is a member of high standing 
in our fraternity. I heard him say once in 
preaching at a missionary convention that he 
was not one of these 'perfectionists,' nor had he 
gotten 'so goody, goody as to be sanctified. In 
fact,' said he, T am always a little suspicious of 
those who claim to be!' I guess if we knew all 
about this piety we have here as pastor, we might 
discover a skeleton in the closet. Well, I must 
go; will see you to-night at the lodge." 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 73 

But in Spite of some opposition, both within 
and without the church, after three weeks of 
hard work, Brother True received into the church 
one hundred and twenty-eight probationers. Be- 
sides, many others were reclaimed and sancti- 
fied. 

Among this number were such men as Geo. B. 
Chase and Henry Fort, two of the leading mer- 
chants in Daleville. 

Brother True's proposition for securing a lead- 
ing holiness evangelist to lead a camp meeting 
in June at Daleville met with almost unanimous 
approval. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 75 



CHAPTER VIL 

THE UNEXPECTED. 

As a result of this very successful revival 
many changes naturally took place. The Ep- 
worth League elected new officers. Ruth Nor- 
den was made president, Maud Leed first vice 
president. The league room was crowded at 
each service. Maud made an ideal first vice. 
She possessed the happy faculty of knowing 
how to get others to work. She was always 
encouraging those who were backward, endeav- 
oring to develop self-confidence, and a modest 
degree of self-reliance which is an essential 
qualification for efficiency in any work of this 
kind. 

Ruth did much planning. She was unswerv- 
ing in her purposes and yet always open for any 
suggestion which might be given for the bet- 
terment of the work. She and Maud made a 
happy team at the head of the league. 

The meetings became so spiritual that con- 
versions in the regular devotional services were 
not an uncommon occurrence. 

Brother True was greatly beloved by the young 
people of his church. They ever sought his ad- 



75 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

vice and counsel as to the proper course to pur- 
sue in carrying on the work. He knew that 
these young Hves must in some way be kept 
busy. So he always endeavored to teach them, 
as far as possible, to plan for themselves. He 
also taught them that every plan should aim at 
the salvation of souls, and the edification of those 
already saved. As a result of this kind of teach- 
ing a class was formed for the proper instruc- 
tion of personal workers. The Bible was the 
principal book used. Some other text-books 
which were known to be of service were also 
studied. But the chief aim in this study was 
to learn the Scriptures, especially those por- 
tions which may be used for the best results in 
dealing with the unconverted. 

This manner of instruction developed a class 
of young men and women in the church at Dale- 
ville who supplied a much felt need. 

We have not space here to dwell upon all the 
noble work these young, devoted Christians did. 
Suffice it to say, at this time, that they contin- 
ued to increase in power and efficiency. Souls 
were sought and won nearly every week. 

As spring drew near there was much interest 
manifested in the coming camp meeting. It was 
a new thing to most of the people. The idea of 
camping out and holding meetings in a large 
tent was indeed a novel one. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. "Jj 

The young people were especially interested. 
The Epworth League was planning to secure a 
number of small tents for the purpose of camp- 
ing on the ground during the ten days of meet- 
ings. 

Brother True appointed a committee on ar- 
rangements which consisted of five godly busi- 
ness men. They were to secure the ground, 
tabernacle and tents for camping; and besides 
look after the general arrangements and com- 
fort of those coming from a distance. 

It was also necessary to do a certain amount of 
advertising, to secure reduced rates on the rail- 
roads, and to look after the finances of the meet- 
ing. 

Arrangements had been made with a noted 
evangelist to take charge of the meeting and do 
most of the preaching. 

Brother Waverly was decidedly pronounced in 
his opposition to the coming meeting, especially 
so after having learned that the evangelist was 
a prominent leader in the Holiness movement. 
He was a man of means, and had much influence 
among a certain class of the less spiritual mem- 
bers. He was also a member of the board of 
trustees, acting as chairman of that body. Dur- 
ing Dr. Swift's pastorate at Daleville he had been 
his chief adviser. The presiding elder was usu- 
ally entertained at his home. Dr. Charm was 



78 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

an old acquaintance and a member of the same 
fraternal order. He had written Dr. Charm 
concerning Brother True and his holiness preach- 
ing. Indeed, he had made many statements 
which were far from being true, and much of 
the truth he had purposely concealed. Dr. 
Charm had replied that the matter would re- 
ceive his attention at the proper time. Deter- 
mined in some way to baffle the plans of Brother 
True in arranging for the camp meeting, he again 
wrote to the presiding elder. One morning in 
March Dr. Charm received the following letter : 

Daleville, 

March lo, — ^ 

Rev. J. M. Charm, Riverside, 



Dear Sir and Brother — I am sorry that it 
becomes my painful duty again to write you con- 
cerning matters in our church. As you know, I 
am greatly interested in the welfare of Zion, and 
such plans as are afoot here at this time greatly 
grieve me. 

This man True has arranged to have one of 
those ''second blessing'' cranks come here in June 
to hold a camp meeting. It seems to me it is 
time you were taking some steps to w^ipe out 
such downright fanaticism from our beloved 
church. I have heard so much about ''holiness'' 
and "perfection" and ^'sanctification" during the 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 79 

last few months, that I am really sick of it. 
Your decided and conclusive action in the matter 
will be greatly appreciated by a large number 
of loyal people in our church. Yours, 

Samuel Waverly. 

The following letter was received in reply to 
the above a few days later : 

Riverside, ■ 

March 14, 

Dear Brother Waverly : Yours at hand and 
carefully noted. I will lose no time in bringing 
that thing to a standstill. This is not the first 
time I have been tormented with these ^'second 
blessing," ''church splitting," ''cranktified," ''one- 
idea" fellows. Rest assured that I will look 
after the interest of our beloved Zion. In the 
meantime, keep your eje on the compass and 
notify me if anything new transpires. Yours 
truly, J. M. Charm. 

A few days later the following letter was re- 
ceived at the parsonage door in Daleville. 

Riverside, 

March 17, • 

Rev. Chas. H. True, Daleville: 

Dear Brother — I am informed that you are 
planning for a camp meeting on your charge in 
June, and that you have arranged to have one 
of those so-called "holiness evangelists" to do 



8o THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

the preaching. I was in hopes you had given 
up that ''second blessing'' idea entirely. It pain- 
ed me to hear you refer to it in your sermon at 
the District Meeting. You had bright prospects 
before you until you took up with this old, worn- 
out theory, which is not preached by one preach- 
er in a hundred in Methodism to-day. Then 
you are losing the respect of your most influen- 
tial members. You would better call on some of 
those who are opposing you and endeavor to ad- 
just matters with them. As to the camp meet- 
ing, I must insist on your giving it up entirely. 
I cannot countenance a meeting of that charac- 
ter on my district. Such errors as these men 
preach will ruin our church and bring us into 
disrepute among high-thmking, intelligent peo- 
ple. Your brother and presiding elder, 

J. M. Charm. 

This was indeed startling, to say the least. 
Brother True was beginning to learn the real 
hateful opposition which exists in the hearts of 
men toward holiness. 

But what was to be done ? His comaiiittee had 
ordered a tabernacle ; the evangelist had been 
engaged ; the ground had been secured, and 
many other things done towards perfecting the 
plans. And the people were enthusiastic over 
the matter. He knew of only a very few men 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 8l 

who had shown any opposition whatever. But 
here was a letter positively prohibiting the meet- 
ing — and that from his superior. He had always 
greatly respected his presiding elder. To him 
the office was one of great importance and re- 
sponsibility. He knew the discipline stated that 
no pastor was permitted to engage an evangel- 
ist without the written consent of the presiding 
elder. But that part of the discipline, like many 
others, was never referred to. It was taken for 
granted that a pastor knew enough to get the best 
help possible. 

It was known that the man engaged for this 
camp meeting was a true, loyal Methodist, and 
surely holiness of heart was a Methodist doc- 
trine; in fact, it was the peculiar doctrine of 
Methodism. Every ]\Iethodist preacher knew 
full well that Wesley, Fletcher, Adam Clark, 
Bramwell and a host of others professed this ex- 
perience, and always preached it. Now his elder 
makes the startling statement that not one in a 
hundred to-day preach it. Does not this account 
for the present spiritual dearth in many places? 
Does not this explain why great committees on 
evangelism are created? Is it not possible that 
the Holiness movement is the result of the 
church called Methodist failing in her real com- 
mission? Did not the class meeting die out be- 
cause there was but little in most experiences to 



82 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

which to testify? Had he himself not promised 
"to groan'' until he received the experience? 
Was he now ''to groan'' for arranging meetings 
that others might obtain it ? Had not the revival 
in their church been the result of preaching this 
blessing? Did not he know the reality of the 
experience. Was it not received as a second 
definite experience or work of grace in his own 
soul? Surely, he could not be mistaken in all 
this. But what was to be done ? 

Brother True was a man of prayer. He knew 
that God could direct him in the right way. So 
he decided at once to take the matter to the Lord. 
As he thought on this mysterious letter his heart 
burned within him-. Can man stop God ? Surely 
not. He sank upon his knees there in his study 
and poured out his soul to God. Two hours 
passed away, but that man of God was still 
praying. Another hour passed, but his cry still 
went up to heaven. The hour for the evening 
meal came, but Brother True was not to be dis- 
turbed. His wife understood jthis. He was 
never called the second time. The hours swiftly 
passed away. The house was dark and silent. 
Footsteps ceased to be heard upon the street. 
But this Jacob is not to rise until the God of 
Abraham answers. Intensely he pleads that God 
must direct. This matter must be settled now, 
once and forever. God or man must be obeyed. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 83 

The clock strikes one, but the answer is not yet. 
He is now prostrate on the floor. He perspires 
from every pore of his body, but he does not seem 
to realize it. 

'^Oh, God!'' he cries, ''it must be settled to- 
night. Come, oh, thou Traveler unknown, whom 
still I hold but cannot see ; I will not, I will not let 
thee go.'' The answer comes. The Saviour 
speaks. The prayer is heard. The God of Abra- 
ham still lives. The matter is settled. His de- 
cision is made. The camp meeting must not, 
cannot be stopped. God cannot be thwarted. 
He must be obeyed. The victory is won — God 
is supreme. 

Brother True was a man who believed in pray- 
ing through. This was not his first experience 
in taking m.atters before God for final settlement. 
He knew the Lord would open the way and di- 
rect him in the course he was to pursue. 

The next day he called on the camp meeting 
managing committee, consisting of five men 
whom he had appointed, and requested them to 
call at his study that evening, as there were mat- 
ters of the greatest importance to discuss regard- 
ing the meeting. 

They were all there by 8 o'clock. The pastor 
read to them the presiding elder's letter. He also 
explained some things concerning the Holiness 
movement and holiness evangelists. He also 



84 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

made clear to them the vow every Methodist 
preacher must take on entering conference. The 
matter of the discipHne, requiring the pastor to 
secure from the presiding elder a written per- 
mission to engage an evangelist was also ex- 
plained. He next told them how he had prayed 
over the matter, and w^as confident that it was 
God's will the meeting be held. ''But/' said he, 
''brethren, how is it to be done." 

Geo. B. Chase, who had been converted dur- 
ing the revival, was one of the committee. He 
was a shrewd business man, who had lived for 
many years in Daleville. Besides this, he was 
raised in a Methodist home and was Vv^ell versed 
in Methodist doctrine. 

His father had been a successful local preach- 
er, a man of more than ordinary ability. This 
son inherited in no small degree his father's 
keen intellectual discernment, and at once saw 
through the perplexing problem. He was the 
first to speak. 

"Brother True,'' said he, "I believe the prob- 
lem may easily be solved. The managing com- 
mittee are all lay members of this church. The 
expenses of the meeting are to be paid by the 
laity. The meeting is not to be held in the 
church, but in a tabernacle. The ground upon 
which it is to be held belongs to me. So this 
may well be named the 'laymen's holiness camp 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 85 

meeting/ We shall extend a cordial invitation 
to you/' he said, smiling, ''to attend our camp 
meeting. But we will relieve you of all responsi- 
bility in the matter. Besides, we can write to 
Dr. Charm to that effect, if these other brethren 
think it expedient. What do you say, breth- 
ren?" 

''I believe,*' said Brother Constant, "that it 
would be well for us to write a letter to Dr. 
Charm, so as to avoid any disturbance. I do not 
think it advisable, however, to make this matter 
public property, as many will misunderstand it, 
and possibly some bitterness might arise toward 
Dr. Charm/' 

They all agreed that a letter should be sent to 
the presiding elder and Brother Chase was in- 
structed to write it. When ready the other mem- 
bers of the committee were to sign it with him. 
After attending to some other business they all 
knelt in prayer, asking God's blessing upon the 
deliberations of the hour. 

A few days later Dr. Charm received the fol- 
lowing letter : 

Daleville, 

March 25, — 

Rev. J. M. Charm, Riverside, : 

Dear Brother — We, as members of the Dale- 
ville Methodist Church, and managing commit- 
tee of a camp meeting which is to be held here 



86 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

in June, desire to write you a few words of ex- 
planation concerning said meeting. A letter 
sent to our pastor by you was read in our hearing 
for the purpose of obtaining our advice concern- 
ing the question involved, as well as the proper 
course to pursue. We very much regret the 
stand you take regarding this meeting. We sin- 
cerely believe you are either mistaken or misin- 
formed concerning the nature of the meeting, as 
well as the prevailing condition of things in our 
church. But, however that may be, we have re- 
lieved our pastor of any responsibility in the 
matter. The camp meeting to be held will be 
known as the ''laymen's holiness camp meeting." 
We desire, if it be possible, for you to attend, 
that you may better judge its real character and 
the work done. We further beg you not to trust 
to unreliable reports for information. Faithfully 
yours, 

Geo. B. Chase, 
Wm. Constant, 
Joe Smith, 
Fred W^orthington, 
David Porter, 
Managing Committee. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 87 



CHAPTER VIII. 

THE CAMP MEETING. 

The preparations for the camp meeting were 
carefully completed under the splendid manage- 
ment of the committee. Brother True had 
taken it upon himself to invite many of the 
brethren in the ministry. Several had communi- 
cated their purpose to be present and had ar- 
ranged for tents. Many laymen came from long 
distances. The new appellation, ''laymen's holi- 
ness camp meeting," had a peculiar significance 
and attraction to many. Especially did the lay 
members show much interest. 

Daleville w^as known to be a pleasant city, sit- 
uated as it was on the river, with large native 
trees for shade and protection, it surely was a 
most delightful place to spend a few days in 
meeting. 

The spring election had proven a close contest. 
The saloon element had won by a few votes. 
Much excitement had prevailed. It was evident, 
however, that a notable change had taken place 
in the sentiment of the people. Many of the fore- 
most business men w^ere takmg a decided stand 
against the saloon. 



88 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

Young Binghizer had been convicted for man- 
slaughter and sentenced to fifteen years in the 
penitentiary. 

Rob Leed had recently returned home, having 
been gone for several rjionths. The death of 
Tom Smith had wrought a remarkable change in 
Rob. He never entered the Binghizer saloon 
after leaving it that fatal night. It was soon 
after this that he went away, no one knowing 
where he had gone. The conversion of his sister 
Maud had taken place during his absence. His 
mother also had been greatly benefited by the 
meetings and the great change in her daughter. 
But her whole heart seemed to be wrapped up 
in her only son. It was the one supreme hope 
of her life that he would become a man of more 
than ordinary usefulness. Rob was much at- 
tached to his mother. During his worst and 
darkest days he would tell her the burden of his 
heart. He was not slow in seeing her deep sor- 
row because of his sins, and it grieved him much. 
But, like most gamblers and drinking men, the 
promises made to-day were forgotten to-morrow. 
Many times had he promised her that he. would 
never gamble again, nor drink another drop ; 
but as many times had he broken the vow. 

One Sunday evening after his return he at- 
tended service at his mother's urgent request to 
hear the new pastor. He told her that he be- 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 89 

lieved that man was genuine and preached 
''straight goods." Then the remarkable change 
which had come to Maud was having a tremen- 
dous influence on him. 

He said to his mother one day after his re- 
turn, 'T guess Aland discovered she hadn't the 
real thing when that fellow began to preach. He 
is not much like that man Swift they had here 
some years ago. Then that last man was not 
even serious. He was easy game for this town. 
But I see Maud is not anything like what she was 
when I went away." 

The camp meeting was to begin the tenth of 
June. The people began to come early. Many 
were on the ground on the eighth and a host 
came on the ninth. By the tenth there were 
seventy-five tents up and all occupied. 

The young people were very enthusiastic over 
it. They were to lead the singing, with the 
efficient assistance of Maud and Ruth. They 
had made the best of preparations. There were 
about thirty-five in the regular chorus, and many 
others were to assist during the camp meeting. 
The day before the meeting began a number of 
pastors arrived from the Riverside district. They 
desired to get the benefit of the very first serv- 
ice. Among this number was Dr. Strong, who 
had never attended a so-called holiness camp 
meeting. He was watching with deep interest 



90 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

the work of Brother True at Daleville. It was 
his purpose at this time to learn all possible re- 
garding his methods and the real secret of his 
success. 

Brother True was now attracting the attention 
of the entire conference in spite of the opposition 
even from the presiding elder. Many knew that 
Dr. Charm was what is known in conference cir- 
cles as a politician. While pretending he did 
not want the office he now held, the brethren 
knew he had sought it for years. He was a 
fluent speaker and of a social disposition, but 
was never known to have a revival on his work. 

Rev. Frank Policy and Rev. William Ambi- 
tious arrived in Daleville on the evening train 
on the ninth from the western part of the dis- 
trict. 

Dr. Faithful, the evangelist, came on the night 
train and was looked after by Brother True. 

The letter sent to Dr. Charm by the manag- 
ing committee was entirely ignored by him, and 
never answered. He purposed to squelch the 
whole thing at conference by sending to Dale- 
ville a man who would ''clean out the holiness 
crowd.'' 

It was arranged to have a 6 o'clock prayer 
meeting each morning and three sermons a day. 
Dr. Faithful was to preach each afternoon and 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 9I 

evening, other brethren supplying the morning 
sermon. 

The first prayer meeting was attended by a 
host of people. The prayers were fervent and 
revealed a real burden for souls on many hearts. 
It was clear that God was present. In this early 
meeting were found some of the leadmg busi- 
ness men, and there were mothers and daughters, 
old people and young people. What a picture of 
real fidelity to God was seen in that early serv- 
ice! 

Brother True preached the opening sermon. 
He sounded the keynote for the meeting. ''Holi- 
ness becometh thine house, O Lord, forever,'* 
were the words of his text. It was a message 
from God. All realized that the speaker had 
dwelt in the secret place and had met God face 
to face. His words were laden with heavenly 
fire. Somehow the opposition to him and the 
meeting had increased his burden for the return 
of the old-time religion. We can give here but 
a few of the important points in his sermon. He 
showed that holiness is the basis of what is con- 
sidered the moral character of God. That in 
God this attribute is absolute. That man was 
created holy. By a willful transgression of a spe- 
cific commandment man lost that righteousness 
and true holiness. Thus sin, w^hich brought all 
its dire results, was admitted into the human 



92 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

heart by the consent of man, and in direct oppo- 
sition to the will of God. ''Wherefore, as by 
one man sin entered into the world, and death 
by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for 
that all have sinned/' Rom. 5-12. This did not 
change God, nor his attitude toward holiness 
as a necessary and essential quality in man. But 
it changed man from being holy to being unholy, 
unclean and corrupt. From this sad fallen state 
man cannot save himself. He is undone so far 
as his power to rescue himself is concerned. The 
law was still holy and just and good; but an un- 
holy, an unjust man cannot keep a holy law. 
Worse than this, he has no desire to obey such 
a law. He is sinful, or full of sin. The condi- 
tion is a deplorable one to contemplate. And 
more deplorable when we remember that Adam 
represented the race, and this sinfulness is in- 
herited by every son of Adam since that time. If 
justice had taken its course at that time no doubt 
man would have been banished from God's pres- 
ence forever. But now mercy appears, and a 
promise is made. The seed of the woman is to 
bruise the serpent's head. Man must be restored 
to a state of holiness. It must be done by God, 
but not without the consent of the human will. 
In its provision God is sovereign. But in its re- 
ception man is sovereign. It must be done also 
without destroying the integrity of the divine 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 93 

government, and thus bring a dark cloud upon 
the justice of God. A sacrifice for sin must be 
made sufficient to atone for it and satisfy the 
moral Governor of the universe. Then on the 
human side it must cure the malady and destroy 
its cause. jNIan must be saved from sin. The 
usurper must be dethroned and God take his 
rightful place within our affections. To accom- 
plish this the incarnation was, in the mind of 
God, necessary. The God-man, our advocate, 
Jesus Christ, the righteous, is the equal of either 
party. Through the atonement made by him 
man may be forgiven and God still be ''just and 
the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus." It 
also makes it possible for the moral nature, pol- 
luted by sin, to be cleansed from sin (or sin- ful- 
ness). *Tf we confess our sins, he is faithful and 
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from 
all unrighteousness'' (un-right-ness). ''Holiness 
becometh thine house, O Lord, forever." God's 
house is his church. His church consists of those 
saved from sin. We, each of us, are individual 
temples in which God dwells, provided we are 
holy. For he says, "The temple of God is holy, 
which temple ye are." ''Be ye holy, for I am 
holy." The Scriptures teach us plainly that holi- 
ness of heart is absolutely essential, not only 
when we die to admit us into the presence of 
God, but while we live that we may exemplify 



94 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

Jesus to the world. This is the whole burden of 
the Saviour's prayer in John, seventeenth chap- 
ter : ''Neither pray I for these alone, but for 
them also w^hich shall believe on me through 
their word. That they may all be one, as thou, 
Father, art in me and I in thee; that they also 
may be one in us."" 

And now he states the supreme object in view 
— "That the world may believe that thou hast 
sent me." Then in the twenty-third verse he 
makes it still more definite : 'T in them, and 
thou in me, that they may be made perfect in 
oi:e" ; and now he re-states the supreme end in 
view (or language has no meaning) : ''And that 
the world may knozi\'' In the twenty-first verse 
he said that the world may ''believe/' but here he 
says that the world may ''know,'' He states fur- 
ther what they are to know, "and hast loved 

THEM AS THOU HAST LOVED ME." Thus God's 

love is to be revealed through a holy church, or 
holy individuals. 

The Scriptures also teach that this holy state 
of the heart is not obtamed at i egeneration, for 
regenerated people are the only ones who are ex- 
horted to seek holiness. Nowhere in the Word 
do we find sinners exhorted to seek holiness, but 
pardon. They also teach that we cannot get 
this holiness by a process of growth. Sin must 
be destroyed, and God only can destroy it. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITU.VL MAN. 95 

Negatively y sanctification is the taking away, tak- 
ing out or destroying sin — not sins which were 
forgiven, but s-i-n ; the evil nature is to be all 
cleansed away. Positively, sanctification is the 
Holy Ghost coming into the soul to abide ever- 
more. God destroys the sin, and God gives the 
Spirit; hence God sanctifies. It will readily be 
seen that growth has no place in the act of sanc- 
tification. Our part is to surrender to him, who 
does the work pursuant to our unwavering faith 
in the merits of the blood. 

To establish further what has already been 
said, we refer you to the Word, as teaching that 
there is a distinction between justification and 
entire sanctification. It teaches that there still 
remains in the justified a moral uncleanness, 
known in the Word by the terms ''carnal mind,*' 
''flesh,'' "old man," "law of sm and death," etc. 
In the third chapter of First Corinthians Paul 
speaks of those being born of God as still "car- 
nal." This was evident from the contentions 
among them. The church at Thessalonica was 
known far and wide for its faith and labors of 
love, yet Paul writes that same church that he 
prayed night and day exceedingly — note he says 
"exceedingly" — "that he might see their face 
and might perfect that which was lacking in their 
faith; to the end that he (God) may establish 
your hearts unblameable in holiness before God." 



96 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

"For this is the will of God^ even your sanctifica- 
tion/' ''For God hath not called us unto un- 
cleanness, but unto holiness/* Then in the fifth 
chapter he prays, "the very God of peace sanc- 
tify you wholly; and I pray God your whole 
spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless 
unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

Let me emphasize, brethren, that this is the 
doctrine and experience which is necessary to 
conserve orthodoxy. When v^^e cease to preach 
this, and cease to seek it, as our heritage in 
Christ Jesus, we soon drift into the wilderness of 
doubt and unbelief, or become stranded on the 
cold, barren coasts of formality. It is the prerog- 
ative of the Spirit to make men holy. He is the 
Holy Spirit who convicts, converts and sancti- 
fies and keeps ; and will teach us all things ; and 
lead us into all truth. He wull at last glorify 
the soul and body and perfect us in human per- 
fection. 

As fast as we drift from this great central 
truth of heart holiness, so fast do we decline in 
spiritual power and evangelistic fervor. Our 
cry of spiritual dearth to-day is only another way 
of confessing that we have left this old land- 
mark and are drifting away from God. My love 
for our great church is second to nothing but 
God ; and yet I see her drifting nearer and near- 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 97 

er the dangerous rocks which have shattered 
many before her. 

I trust you will not stigmatize your humble 
servant a pessimist if from a burdened heart, 
after careful and prayerful study and observa- 
tion, I place before you a few interrogations this 
morning for your prayerful consideration. 

Is not this doctrine which I have sought to 
place before you the peculiar doctrine of Meth- 
odism? Was it not the preaching and teaching 
of this that gave birth to our church? Was it 
not while preaching this as a second definite woric 
of grace that Methodism was invincible? Did 
she not, because of this, take possession of Eng- 
land, and cross the Atlantic with a bound ? Were 
not her flames of holy fire destructive to Satan's 
strongest defenses? Did not her converts num- 
ber into the thousands each year ? Were not her 
bishops baptized with the fire of the Holy Ghost ? 
Did they not urge the preachers to continue 
preaching this full salvation regardless of op- 
position ? 

'The world is my parish,'' said Wesley. We 
were then taking it in Jesus' name. We exalted 
our Christ. We magnified the merits of the 
blood. We believed in a complete redemption 
from ALL sin. 

But, brethren, where are we to-day? Who is 
preaching scriptural holiness from Methodist 



98 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

pulpits? Who is urging believers to seek the 
blessing of entire sanctification ? Where are 
the old-time revivals that made us famous as a 
soul-winning and a world-conquering church? 
Why do we appoint a great commission on evan- 
gelism if our fires are still burning? Is not 
Methodism supposed to be an evangelistic com- 
mission? Is not this an acknowledgment that 
we who were once alive with holy fire are be- 
ing embraced in the cold arms of formality? 

But, brethren, while this commission consists, 
no doubt, of most excellent men and noble char- 
acters, who have the interests of our church at 
heart, what are they really doing? Are they en- 
deavoring to restore the preaching and teaching 
of our standard doctrines? Are they holding 
meetings for the sanctification of believers? Do 
they not adroitly avoid these scriptural terms 
which designate a definite experience? Is not 
consecration usually the strongest term used by 
these men who would teach us how to bring a 
world to the feet of Jesus ? Do you not see that 
in this way God is left out almost entirely, for 
man consecrates, but God must sanctify? Paul 
prayed that the God of peace sanctify wholly. 
Jesus prayed the Father to sanctify through the 
truth. But we have become wiser than they. 
Shall we follow modern teachers who set at 
naught the Word of the living God, while the 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 99 

world is reeling knd staggering in sin, until the 
judgments of God to-day are rending this old 
globe with mighty earthquakes? Shall we with- 
hold from dying humanity the truth that God 
ordained to make them free indeed? I say, to 
the glory of my God that I WILL NOT WITH- 
HOLD THIS GREAT TRUTH ! I stand with 
this old Bible. I stand with Wesley. I stand 
with Clark and Fletcher and Watson and As- 
bury and Inskip and McDonald and Steele and a 
host of others who taught tiiis doctrine and pos- 
sessed this experience. I stand for exalting our 
Christ, who is MIGHTY to save. 

We as a church have pulverized to atoms the 
doctrine of a limited atonement. Our work was 
so complete and effective that other churches be- 
came ashamed of their old creeds and sought 
their revision. Let us again stand firm against 
this twin brother — namely, limited power in the 
cleansing efficacy of Jesus' blood, and the sub- 
stitution of "growth'' and ''suppression" for real 
heart holiness. 

Are not our official papers silent upon this su- 
preme question? Are not our chief pastors 
adroitly evading the real issue, with a very few 
exceptions ? Are not many of our institutions of 
learning scoffing at holiness as taught by Wesley ? 
Are they not in many instances far from being 
orthodox? Do not our young men come from 

LOfC. 



lOO THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

these schools full of doubt and downright unbe- 
lief concerning the authenticity of the Holy 
Scriptures? Are we to ignore all this as we 
would an idle dream? Is not Ichabod already 
written over our church doors because of the 
ark of the Lord being taken ? Has not the glory 
departed from our church when the altar is be- 
ing removed as an unnecessary piece of furniture 
and no cry of the penitent is heard ? Is not the 
kingdom being rent from Methodism and given 
to a neighbor who is better than she? Was 
David to be despised because he was small of 
stature ? 

Brethren, I plead for a return to our stand- 
ards. I plead for old-time salvation, full and 
free. I plead for the old Wesleyan type of heart 
holiness. I plead for entire sanctification as 
taught in God's Word. Our crown will surely 
be given to another except we repent and do our 
first works over again, and return to our first 
love. God will have a holy people. We must 
not be ashamed of him or his words. 

May God help us to cut the shore lines during 
this camp meeting and launch out into the deep ! 
Put your all on the altar to-day, and the God of 
Elijah will answer by fire! Will you come while 
we sing — 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. lOI 

"There is a fountain filled with blood, 
Drawn from Immanuers veins, 

And sinners plunged beneath that flood 
Lose all their guilty stains." 

Dr. Strong wept like a child under these burn- 
ing words of Brother True. The speaker had 
studied well the message. It was the unburden- 
ing of a mighty conviction which had grown on 
him during the past three years. 



TflE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. IO3 

CHAPTER IX. 

MIRACLES. 

Dr. Faithful soon convinced the people that 
holiness was the central truth of the Bible, and 
that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. 
His sermons were deep and yet simple. His 
illustrations were at times amusing, but their 
force could not be evaded. The ministers were 
deeply interested in all he said. Such exposition 
of Scripture was a feast for them. It was when 
he began to expose and define the nature of in- 
bred sin that they felt their real need of holiness. 
The Holy Spirit was evidently applying the truth 
in convicting power. Many came seeking for 
pardon, and others for purity. 

Dr. Strong was an intent listener. He had 
come to learn the truth. He was dissatisfied 
with his experience. The third day Brother True 
requested him to preach the next morning. His 
reply was, ''No, my brother; I must first obtain 
before I can explain. If this is true that I hear 
preached — and I believe it is — then I must be- 
come a seeker, which I have purposed this day 
in my heart to do.'' 

At the next altar service Dr. Strong was on 
his face in the straw. It had taken some time 
for him to make this resolution ; but now it was 



I04 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

settled in his mind. It was a most touching scene. 
Many were weeping as they beheld their former 
presiding elder and eloquent preacher humbly 
beseeching God for a clean heart. It meant much 
to him. He knew that something was lacking 
in his experience. He had often hungered for 
the fullness. It was not to come easy in his 
case. Much false dignity must go; pride must 
die ; ambition for position must perish ; the opin- 
ions of men must be disregarded. There must 
be a crucifixion of the ''old man.'' Sin must be 
destroyed. He had weighed the matter thorough- 
ly. The preacher had made it clear. The price 
must be paid. 

It was two days later that the victory came. 
He had spent two sleepless nights. He was alone 
in his tent when the fire fell. His cries were 
heard over the camp ground. Several hastened 
to the tent, thinking something must be wrong. 
I And there was the preacher, his face illuminated 
with the light of heaven. His voice melodious 
with the unction of the Holy One, while he cri&d 
out, 'T am sanctified wholly ! I am sanctified 
wholly! Glory! O glory to God! I have found 
him whom my soul loveth ! O, glory ! glory !" 

Brother True hastened to his side, praising 
God for answering his prayer. They embraced 
one another as a mother embraces her son after 
a long absence. ''Now, Brother True, I under- 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. IO5 

Stand why you are so extremely spirit uaL It is 
all clear now." Eternity alone can tell what 
this sanctification really meant to the church 
and the world. 

Many were now being saved. Hundreds of 
people were on the ground, wdiile others were 
continually coming from long distances. The 
young people were thronging the altar seeking 
clean hearts. Brother True was laboring hero- 
ically with this young band of consecrated work- 
ers. He was determined that they should get 
''through.'' He was often heard to say ''pray 
through, pray through ! You must pray if you 
would be a prince with God." 

Down along the banks of the river men could 
be seen day and night crying out to God for 
clean hearts. Others were disposing of old pipes 
and packages of tobacco in the flowing water; 
so that even nature v/as assisting in the work of 
cleansing the outer man. 

The toughest elements in Daleville were now 
coming in large numbers to the meetings. Joe 
Smith was praying in real heart agony for his 
son Bill. Maud was greatly exercised over her 
brother Rob. He had not missed a service. It 
was evident that fie was greatly convicted. But 
Maud knew better than to hasten matters. She 
knew that when Rob did make up his mind, noth- 
ing would stop him. 



I06 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

Besides, Maud and Ruth were now seeking en- 
tire sanctification. They discovered under the 
clear preaching of Dr. Faithful that there still 
remained in their hearts some ''roots of bitter- 
ness.'' It was their purpose to consecrate all and 
receive the fullness of the blessing. 

Dr. Faithful's sermons were laden with clear- 
cut Gospel truth. Sin was uncovered in a most 
vivid manner. Flis illustrations were dramatic 
and convincing. Conviction was deep and pro- 
found. Ministers were in real heart agony, cry- 
ing for clean hearts. Men and women were pros- 
trate, praying for themselves and others. Con- 
fessions and restitutions were being made. It 
was the fifth night of the meeting when a decided 
break came. Brother True was looking for it. 
He had been in great agony of soul for a sweep- 
ing victory. The answer had come from the 
skies into his innermost being that God would 
visit in mighty power. 

Dr. Faithful had preached an unusual sermon 
on sowing and reaping. He had not yet finished 
when a man was seen climbing over the plank 
seats toward the altar, speaking to several others 
as he came, and they in turn rising and going 
with him. It was Rob Leed leading his old 
companions to God, that they with himself might 
seek mercy. The scene was heart-rending. Men 
and women were overcome as they saw their sons 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. IO7 

turning to God. Bill Smith was at Rob's side. 
The long altar was filled with men. Mr. Leed 
hastened to seek God when he saw his wayward 
son leading a host to the altar. 

The Holy Spirit came in a wave of mighty 
conviction over the altar and entire congrega- 
tion. The cries for mercy and pardon and 
cleansing were rending the night air. Rob Leed 
was prostrated under the mighty power of God. 

The meeting was now beyond the control of 
men. For two hours this continued. Songs and 
testimonies and prayers arose in great volume. 

Maud was by her brother's side, fler prayer 
will never be forgotten by those who heard her. 
Language fails to portray the scene of that mem- 
orable night. Over one hundred were saved, 
and as many were sanctified wholly. 

Daleville was now aroused. The conversion 
of Rob Leed, Bill Smith and a large number of 
other great sinners was the talk on every cor- 
ner. People came from other towns to see what 
was really taking place. The stores were all 
closed every evening. The saloons were nearly 
empty, most of the time. 

Rob Leed became very active. He was doing 
excellent work in the congregation. He led many 
souls with w^hom he had been in sin to Christ. 
This had not come upon him as suddenly as some 
who read mav think. Since the death of Tom 



I08 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

Smith he had not had a day of rest from his con- 
science. The mental picture of poor Tom had 
haunted him wherever he went. He was now 
determined to do all in his power to atone for 
the past. 

Rob possessed a keen intellect. His mind pene- 
trated the deep things in a remarkable manner. 
Dr. Faithful had given him a new vision of 
things. His apt illustrations had driven the 
truth home with telling effect. Rob was quick 
to grasp these truths. He did not know, how- 
ever, the future use he was to make of them. 
Rob had an old companion in Daleville by the 
name of Dick Dawson, who was in the saloon 
business. He was a man of about twenty-six 
years of age. He had seen much of the world, 
having traveled extensively. Most of his life 
had been spent among the tougher element, most- 
ly in Western cities. He had come to Daleville 
two years before this time. He had rented a 
large building for the purpose of runnmg a sa- 
loon and giving lessons in boxing. 

The conversion of his old companion had 
greatly interested him. He sent word to Rob, 
stating that he desired to see him on important 
business. Upon Rob's arrival he requested him 
to tell all about his new experience. 

'T have been abroad a bit in my day, Bob,'' 
said he, ''but this here thing I hear about yer 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I09 

kinder beats me. How can a man chop off the 
hul cheese at onct as you did is more'n I know. 
To be real honest wid yer, Bob, I'm a Httle skep- 
tical, as these big men say, about the hull busi- 
ness. Maybe you kin help me out a little.'' 

Rob began at the very beginning and ex- 
plained to him how he had drifted a little at a 
time. How he had begun by smoking cigarettes, 
then cigars, then to drink a little for the sake of 
being social. How he had learned to play cards 
at the nice little parties in beautiful homes, and 
later with the tougher element. How he had 
commenced shaking dice for pennies and then 
for nickels and dimes. How this had led him to 
become fascinated with a desire to win. How 
he played poker the first time and won a few 
dollars. 

He told him also how his mother had plead 
wuth him. Many nights he had gone home at 2 
o'clock and found her w^aiting for her boy. 

''I tell you, Dick, I saw the gray hair coming 
on that head, the most beautiful head a man ever 
looked at, all because I was killing her by de- 
grees. It w^as worse than dying to see it, Dick ; 
a mother is the best friend a man's got. But I 
tell you, Dick, though I've sufifered many deaths 
in mv time, and made manv resolutions in mv 
day, when I saw poor Tom Smith fall, to never 
rise again, from a blow given him by the man 



no THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

that had ruined him, and taken his last cent for 
booze, it made me do some tall thinking. 

''I stood beside his grave, Dick, the day he was 
buried, long after they were all gone. I thought 
how mighty quiet we would all soon be. Be- 
sides, Dick, I made up my mind that I was about 
the meanest man that ever lived. I could have 
lecl Tom Smith any way I wanted to. He was a 
good kind of a boy, Dick, but booze got him, 
and a saloonkeeper killed him. And nov/ he lies 
yonder under that big tree where they can't 
throw beer glasses to hurt him. 

'^But I have played my last trump, Dick ; I've 
thrown my aces into the river. Xo more of this 
kind for me. My die is cast. The stuff is off. 

"But you want to know how this thing all hap- 
pened so quickly. Well, I must say, Dick, that 
I cannot explain its workings to your satisfac- 
tion, but can give you some idea perhaps. Have 
you ever been in debt, Dick, so you could not 
sleep nights?'' 

''Well, I reckon I have. I w^as in the hole 
two thousand at one time ; did not sleep much 
for a few nights till a feller came along and gave 
me a boost.'' 

''Well, Dick, that is the idea exactly. I was 
in debt, so to speak, and couldn't pay it. It was 
not money I owed, Dick, but I had been so mean 
and full of real cussedness, and " 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. Ill 

"I ketch your idee, Bob ; yer felt like a man 
what had stole somethun or killed somebody/' 

''Now you struck it, Dick. I guess youVe had 
a touch of it yourself at times.'' 

''Well, I reckon I could tell yer a few that'd 
make yer hair come up." 

"I see you're on to my idea exactly. Well, I 
was most awfully miserable ever since Tom was 
killed. It was getting worse right along. So 
I just thought I'd go down to that big tent for 
luck. I knew it couldn't hurt me, anyway ; but 
I never had my case described quite so nicely as 
that preacher gave it the other night. It seemed 
that he had followed me for years. I couldn't 
begin to explain my case as he did. He showed 
me how mean I had been, and how this thing 
would have to be settled some day in the Big 
Supreme Court. But he said it could be settled 
now, free of charge, if I would but confess it 
and sue for peace. I thought that was my 
chance. So I started and asked the gang to go 
along. But when I got down at the bench, Dick, 
and began to " 

"Sav your prayer — eh, Bob?" 

"Yes, Dick, it was then my debt was canceled 
or forgiven or something. The whole ledger 
was made clean, and I got a receipt in full in 
mv inside pocket, Dick, right under my ribs 
here." 



112 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

"Well, Bob, I reckon yer told it straight, and 
think yer ain't far out o' the way ; but when yer 
go to talk about mothers, Bob, I can trump ev- 
ery card yer play. I reckon my mother's got 
the best there is up there. She was one of these 
prayin' folks. I saw her when she come ter the 
end o' the line ; when she closed her eyes f er the 
last time. She said somethin' about seein' an- 
gels an' some one who was better'n ten thou- 
sand ; but I couldn't see anythin'. Yer will ex- 
cuse this choking. I can't hold it down when I 
think of her. She made me promise to take the 
narrow gauge line. She said it was safer, that 
the scenery was better ; mostly in the mountains. 
She said there were some hard grades, but that 
the engineer knew his business. But yer see, 
Bob, I am still on the broad gauge. Drop around 
about the time meetin' begins and I'll go wid 
yer." 

That night God gave Dr. Faithful a special 
message. Men were filled with awe and fear. 
Conviction was deep. AH felt that they were in 
the very presence of God. Eternity was pictured 
as it seldom is. The Spirit was lifting the veil 
so sinful men could see their awful doom. 
Strong men were heard to groan. Others were 
writhing in agony. The righteous judgments of 
God were flashing before the mind like forked 
lightning. As that man of God pictured the last 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. II3 

day the earth seemed to tremble as in the throes 
of mighty earthquakes. Large cities were 
shaken and crumbhng to atoms. Great cathe- 
drals were shattered to fragments. Thousands 
of railroad trains were violently thrust from the 
rails and heaped in great masses of tangled 
wreckage. The screams and cries of a million 
passengers rent the air. 

The mighty mountains were exploding like 
huge magazines filled with dynamite. The ocean 
in mad fury was in its last throes of deadly con- 
flict with the angry exploding m.ountains of fire, 
w^hich for ages were lying silent beneath the bil- 
lows, like huge sleeping caged lions awaiting the 
dav of their hberation. 

Hundreds of massive steel-clad vessels which 
had defied the missiles of the enem.y are now shot 
into space and lost amidst the mass of rock and 
boiling, lashing weaves. Great yawning gaps 
were rent in the earth; from these the long im- 
prisoned flames made their escape to battle with 
the wild black clouds laden with deadly bolts 
of piercing lightning. Amidst the din of this 
awful battle of the elements the cries of the bil- 
lions upon billions of human beings who had 
risen from the sleep of ages and those also who 
inhabited the earth, rose to call for the rocks 
and mountains to hide them from, the awful 
vision which was now to break upon them. The 



114 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN„ 

sun turned to blackness, as among the unnum- 
bered throng of holy angels ana glorified saints 
the Son of God appeared upon his great white 
throne. "Those who denied his divinity and 
scoffed at his cleansing blood and rejected the 
holiness he offered/' said the preacher, "are now 
seized with the remorse of black despair. Holi- 
ness is written in resplendent letters about the 
eternal throne. HoHness is bursting in glows of 
heavenly fire from every angel and samt. Holi- 
ness received by faith through tlie merits of the 
blood is the only passport which will now permit 
one to enter the gates into the cit^' of the Greax 
King." 

'''Who wants holiness?'' cried the preacher, 
'Svho wants salvation? Come now. We vrilf not 
sing. This is no time to sing. This is a time to 
cry for mercy.'' 

Trembling and terrified souls rushed to the 
altar. ]\Ien and women were weeping, wailing, 
crying and groaning for mercy. Among the 
throng w^as Dick Dawson, with Rob and Bill on 
either side of him. His Herculean frame is 
trembling like an autumn leaf. Brother True is 
kneeling before him, offering a prayer which 
reminds one of Elijah on Carmel. The fire falls. 
The dead is made alive. Tlie lost is found. Dick 
Dawson is saved. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. US 



CHAPTER X. 
^'ye are my witnesses/' 

That Friday night on which Dick Dawson was 
converted was the cHmax of the meeting. Deep 
conviction rested upon beUevers as well as sin- 
ners. Some who had been seeking for sanctifi- 
cation for a week became desperately in earnest. 
Several young people, who had been struggling 
against conviction to do special work, now yield- 
ed their all to God and were baptized with the 
Holy Ghost. 

Those who had witnessed the conversion of 
Maud Leed knew that it had been thorough. 
But the real nature of sin is not known until the 
truth under the inspiration and power of the 
Holy Spirit flashes upon the soul. The ordinary 
preaching of this day does not reveal it. But 
under the searching sermons of Dr. Faithful, 
Maud learned that in her spiritual nature there 
was still uncleanness and an unwillingness to do 
the perfect will of God. 

She had been for some time endeavoring to 
throw off a conviction of a call to mission slum 
work. Her sensitive nature shrank from the 
thought of such an undertakmg. But this night 



Il6 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

she made the surrender and was baptized with 
the Holy Spirit. 

The expression on that beautiful face as the 
cleansed soul shone out through it will ever be 
a cherished mental picture in the minds of those 
who saw it. Her tall, handsome form and deli- 
cate features never looked so queenly as then. 

Her testimony that memorable night revealed 
how profound the work of grace may be in a 
soul, when God has complete control and pos- 
session. There was a tender, compassionate 
sweetness in those dark, brown eyes as she arose 
and said : 

*The storm is past in my soul. Jesus has 
calmed the troubled waters. I have given him 
full control of my little barque. You all know 
that my conversion was genuine. I did not be- 
lieve it possible to obtain a greater blessing than 
I received on that memorable night. It was in- 
deed the greatest epoch in my life. But I later 
discovered there was some impatience and some 
rebellion and some resentment 3"et in my heart. 
Especially did I rebel against a deep conviction 
I had that God desired me to enter mission work 
in large cities, to care for the perisiiing souls 
who need to hear the sweet message of salva- 
tion. But, dear friends, I have made the sur- 
render to-night, once and forever. My all is 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 11/ 

on the altar. The fire of the Holy Ghost has 
cleansed my soul and I am sanctified wholly. 

"I shall never cease to praise my God for send- 
ing our beloved pastor to us, that we might see 
the perfect light of God. I know to-night there 
is a reality in this blessed truth of a clean heart. 
Do not give up, dear friends, but make your 
consecration complete and then by faith in the 
promise and a constant prayer to God you will 
obtain this blessed reality of Jesus enthroned 
within.'' 

During this gracious testimony Rob was en- 
tirely overcome. He knew it was genuine. He 
also knew what it had cost her to make the sur- 
render to do such work. He knew much more 
about the slums than his sister did. Hence her 
future was better understood by him. 

Poor Dick also sobbed as he listened to those 
tender words. He was catching a glimpse of a 
world of beauty he never before had seen. 

But Rob must speak. The conversion of Dick 
Dawson and the testimony of his sister, along 
with the great blessing that was filling his soul, 
had stirred his innermost being. New truths 
were coming to him which were to mean much 
in the future of his life. He arose from beside 
his old companion in sin and said: 

*T don't know much about speaking before an 
audience, but I can tell w^hat I know and feel 



IlS THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

to be true. A few days ago I was the most mis- 
erable man in Daleville. I was a condemned 
wreck in the sight of God and a horrible fail- 
ure in the sight of men. I didn't think there 
was any hope for me. In my despondency I came 
to this tent and heard the truth concerning sin 
and a remedy for it. A real cure is what I had 
longed for these many years. As a last resort 
I made up my mind to put it to a test. For I 
want to say, friends, that I have made thousands 
of resolutions to be a man, to quit this sin, but 
they always failed. I saw I was killing my 
mother by degrees, but I was helpless. You folks 
don't know how wicked I have been. You don't 
know the mental agony I have suffered. You 
don't know the thoughts which passed through 
my mind as I stood yonder under that big elm 
tree, where poor Tom Smith lies. I could have 
prevented that horrible crime, had I lived as my 
mother desired me to live and as my conscience 
told me I ought to live. 

''Oh! friends, it is an awful thing to live. It 
is a more awful thing to permit your influence 
to go out in the wrong way. But God has for- 
given me. I know I have the real thing in my 
heart and now my desire is to help others who 
are bound with these awful chains." 

Rob Leed was a fearless man. What he be- 
lieved to be right he had no fear of doing. Men 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. IIQ 

did not make him quake. He had been a hand- 
some man, but now there were deep hues of dis- 
sipation on his face. He was not yet thirty, but 
his hair was quite gray, and deep furrows about 
his eyes and mouth were marks which sin had 
placed there. His face, however, revealed much 
shrewdness and intelligence. Over his dark, 
piercing, gray eyes was a well-filled, almost mas- 
sive forehead, which indicated well developed rea- 
soning powers. 

When Rob sat down every eye was turned to 
Dick Dawson. Somehow it did not seem possi- 
ble that it could be true that he was in earnest. 

Dick was tall and broad shouldered. His com- 
plexion was very dark with hair inclined to be 
curly. His eyes were a very dark brown. If 
disturbed he would be a dangerous man. But if 
properly cultured his head showed much strength 
of character. He had never attended school ex- 
cept a little when a mere child, so his language 
was mostly made to suit himself. His testimony, 
however, revealed that the man possessed a heart 
which, if surrendered to the will of God, would 
move men tremendously. His whole person in- 
dicated that of a magnetic character. A student 
of human nature could see as he rose to his feet 
that there was a real determination born of a 
fixed purpose in every line of his large face. 

''Ladies and gentlemen,'' said he, ''I ain't much 



120 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

on talkin' in a place o' this* kind, 'cause I never 
tried it afore. But I kin say with my friend Bob 
that the stuff is oft' with Dick Dawson. Man 
ain't no business waitin' till that Big Supreme 
Court sets ter fix things up. It 'peers ter me 
that most of us will be thinkin' about somethin' 
else about that time. Then I want ter say that I 
promised my mother long ago that I'd take the 
narrow gauge line, 'cause she said it was safer, 
as the engineer was on to his job. Then I want 
ter see that kind face again, what used to look 
so good to me when I was little Dick. I think 
she will be waitin' fer me ter come on the nar- 
row line. Now, I don't know much about this 
business, so yer will have ter give nie some point- 
ers. 'Peers ter me that I have got a mighty 
comfortable feelin' already. I've made up my 
mind ter clean house to-morrow. Dick's beer 
and whisky will have ter go into the sewer." 

We cannot stop here to tell in detail all about 
the many conversions and sanctifications which 
took place at these meetings. Ruth Norden was 
sanctified the night before and gave a most 
thrilling testimony. Many of the young people 
were testifying to clean hearts. Joe Smith re- 
ceived the experience and was prostrate for two 
hours under the mighty power of God. Mrs. 
Leed had been restored to her old-time place and 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 121 

experience. The conversion of her son had 
brought the longing desire of her heart. 

Many who had come from long distances were 
to return to their homes with new experiences 
and to assist in spreading the holy fire. 

The next morning found Dick Dawson true to 
his word. He, in company with Rob and Bill 
and a number of others who had been converted 
from lives of dissipation, were early in the sa- 
loon rolling the barrels of liquor and beer into the 
street, where Dick, with a heavy sledge battered 
in the heads. 

This, of course, attracted a large throng of 
spectators. Pat O'Conner, another saloonkeeper 
in Daleville, thought it an awful waste of prop- 
erty to empty the liquor out in this way. In his 
desire to prevent it and if possible make a good 
deal at the expense of Dick's conversion, he said : 

'T'U pay ye's a good price for that, Dick. 
Shure, thare is no sinse in shpilling it on the 
sthreet loike that." 

'Tat, this is the second real sensible thing I 
ever done in my life. The first was last night, 
when I went with Bob to meetin' and got my 
big debt all wiped out so I won't have ter take 
the stand up in the Big Supreme Court. Yer 
see, this is a part o' the contract I made ter get 
the debt canceled. So Fm just fulfillin' my part 
o' the deal. I can give yer a pointer, Pat, fer I 



122 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 




"Dick now proceeded to complete his work of crushing 
iu the barrel heads." Page 123. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I23 

saw last night how the hull thing is goin' agin us 
pretty soon. Yer better get in line and get yer 
debt fixed up, Pat, ler yer can't pay it yerself. 
But if yer get down and confess the hull thing 
yer can get it fixed up to yer taste." 

*'It's losin' ye's head ye are, Dick Dawson, lis- 
tenin' to the loikes o' that. Who's goin' to pay 
ye's debts whin ye waste such foine beer and 
whisky." 

"Yer don't ketch the idee, Pat. Money don't 
go in that Big Supreme Court. Yer see, Pat, 
that court don't set till yer money's all melted, 
and yer big cities go ter pieces, and yer railroad 
trains all get ditched, and there is general con- 
fusion in the sky, and in the sea, and yer can't 
find a place ter put yer foot on what won't be 
goin' ter smithereens. Then yer see this Big 
Court meets in the sky and yer must tell why yer 
sold all that whisky, what never did any good, 
but ter make men fight and kill folks. Poor Tom 
Smith will be there ter take the stand against 
yer, and old man Sawyer what left yer saloon 
last winter and froze on his way home. Don't 
yer see, yer gold won't be in it up there. I ain't 
got no book learnin', but I kin tell a good thing 
when I see it and I know a good feelin' when 
I got it." 

Dick now proceeded to. complete his work of 
crushing in the barrel heads. 



124 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

Pat O'Connor made some strong comments 
which he emphasized with many oaths, as he 
saw the foaming beer and ''red liquor" flowing 
down the gutter. 

When Brother Waverly heard of Dick's con- 
version he took the first train out of the city. He 
was proprietor of the building in which Dick had 
his saloon. This throws some light on the atti- 
tude he had taken toward Brother True and the 
camp meeting. 

On Sunday night the meeting closed with 
sweeping victory and in a blaze of glory. 

It would be wrong for us to leave out of this 
bit of history the fact that at this camp meeting 
was organized a State Holiness Association for 
the promotion of Scriptural holiness. 

Officers were elected and over one hundred 
members were secured on the camp ground. Mr. 
Geo. B. Chase offered to douctte ten acres of 
land on the bank of the river for a permanent 
camp ground. This land was covered with large 
native trees, an ideal place for the purpose. It 
was at once accepted and deeded to the asso- 
ciation. Mr. Chase was elected chairman of a 
permanent committee on building and improve- 
ments. Thus the work of holiness was to be pro- 
moted by laymen as well as the clergy and with- 
out them if necessary. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 125 



CHAPTER XI. 

PLOTTING. 

Rev. Frank Policy and Rev. Wm. Ambitious 
did not remain long at the camp meeting. They 
heard Brother True preach the opening sermon 
and also two sermons by Dr. Faithful. They 
then excused themselves by saying that it was 
not possible to leave their work over Sunday, as 
their congregations were large and pastoral du- 
ties very pressing. But ''truth wall out." In 
the course of time it was learned that these 
brethren had come at the request of Dr. Charm 
to sort of "spy out the land'' and get the lay of 
things. It was his purpose to fall hard on this 
camp meeting business at the annual conference. 
His will and washes were not to be thwarted in 
this manner. He must convince the pastor and 
people of Daleville that he was presidmg elder 
and must not be ignored. These two brethren 
were special favorites with him and were to stand 
by him should a contest of any character make it 
necessarv. Then these brethren had a cove- 
tous eye on Daleville, it being a much better 
charge than they w^ere serving. They were both 
older men in the conference than Brother True. 



126 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

Besides, he had never graduated from a theolog- 
ical school as they had. So It was preposterous 
in Dr. Strong advising the bishop to advance him 
to so important a place as Daleville. But Dr. 
Strong believed in placing men on a charge who 
would do the work, regardless of rank or de- 
grees. And these men were not succeeding in 
bringing about results. Both were known to be 
opposed to revivals. They advocated a constant, 
gradual increase and a substantial building up 
of the work. But facts and figures proved that 
in their case it was a gradual decrease and go- 
ing down of the work under their charge. They 
did not have accessions nor were their churches 
spiritual. Benevolences were often below appor- 
tionment; and other claims far from being met. 
A few days after their return home Dr. Charm 
received the following letters : 

S 

June — 

Rev. J. M. Charm: 

Dear Brother — As requested by you, I attend- 
ed the camp meeting at Daleville. It was not 
possible for me to remain but one day. Of 
course, as you know, this is strictly confidential ; 
but you ought to know some things which are 
taking place at Daleville. I heard True preach 
the opening sermon — if it be called a sermon. 
He tried to prove the ''second blessing" theory. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 12/ 

He seems to be ignorant of the fact that we have 
passed that old, musty doctrine years ago. If 
he had attended one of our theological schools 
he would have better sense than even to mention 
so stale a thing as the ''second blessing." The 
very term fairly grates on me. Such men as he 
should be kept on some country circuit to preach 
to farmers and foreigners who know no better 
than to believe such stuff. "Where ignorance is 
bliss 'tis folly to be wise." The strange part of 
it is that he has such a following. Even Dr. 
Strong is all taken up w^ith him, and from what 
I saw and heard I fear he is going to accept that 
''second blessing" theory. True has some kind 
of a personal magnetism which seems to fascinate 
people. But you will find that his work will all 
go to pieces when he leaves it. I don't believe in 
these spasmodic spurts. 

That man Faithful is simply rank. He ought 
not to be permitted on the district under any cir- 
cumstances. I never felt so uncomfortable in 
my life under a sermon as I did under his on the 
words, "Oh,. wretched man that I am, who shall 
deliver me from the body of this death?" 

He tried to prove that this ''second blessing" 
destroyed the carnal mind or "old man" or 
corpse, as he put it. I don't see how any one can 
sit under such rank teaching. Any steps you 
take at conference to prevent these camp meet- 



128 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

ings will be sustained by me. Yours in the inter- 
est of Zion, Frank Policy. 

As Dr. Charm closed the letter he slapped it on 
the table with the exclamation, "I just thought 
that man Strong would be carried away with that 
'second blessing' craze! He always did have 
some weakness along that line. But Strong or 
no Strong, I will give that thing a death blow 
at conference.'' 

A day or two later another letter was received 
by Dr. Charm, which read as follows : 

M 

June, 

Rev. Dr. Charm : 

Dear Brother — Your request was complied 
with regarding the Daleville meeting. My stay 
there was of short duration, but I learned many 
things concerning the real condition of the 
church and the imprudent methods exercised by 
that one-idea man who is their pastor. He 
preached the opening sermon and it was the 
warmest thing I have listened to in many a day. 
He has been studying some old books which are 
entirely out of date, and not in harmony with 
modern thinking, nor modern writers. He be- 
lieves in the ''second blessing" and eradication 
theory, which is rejected to-day by nearly all 
our leading men. This comes as a result of or- 
daining men who have not graduated in one of 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I29 

our schools of theology. I have never heard a 
sermon previous to this time on entire sanctifica- 
tion, not even by one of the bishops who are sup- 
posed to preach our standard doctrines. This 
convinces me that these specialists are entirely 
out of harmony with the present day spirit of our 
great church, which has advanced to the high 
plane of culture and refinement attained by other 
churches which ignore the doctrines preached by 
them. The evangelist he had was a powerful 
speaker, but his theology is rank. He tried to 
make a distinction between consecration and en- 
tire sanctificatiori, but that always makes me 
tired. 

One thing must be admitted, however, and 
that is that True has a great following in Dale- 
ville. His doctrine of holiness is being accepted 
by those people who, it seemed to me, were ex- 
tremely emotional. The performance at the altar 
was ridiculous. 

I learned since leaving there that they had 
invited Dr. Faithful back for another year. They 
also organized one of those holiness associations, 
I am told. Besides, one of the lay members at 
Daleville has given ten acres of land as a per- 
manent ground for the camp meetings. They are 
also arranging to build a large tabernacle that 
will seat two thousand people. The attendance 
this year was large. It looks as though True 



130 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAX. 

expects to remain tliere for some time, but he 
may be greatly surprised when the appomtments 
are read. Your plan to stop the whole thmg is 
wise. You may count on me if necessary. 
Yours fraternally, 

Wm. Ambitious. 
Dr. Charm paced the floor muttering to him- 
self for nearly an hour after reading this letter. 
Finally, as one who has seized a new idea, he 
drew his chair to the writing de^k and penned 
the following : 

Riverside, 

Tune, 



Dear Brother Ambitious — Your letter was 
read with much interest. I am glad I have some 
men on whom I may rely most implicitly. I have 
fully decided since reading your letter that I must 
act in a mr^ost definite manner at the next confer- 
ence. That man True must not be permitted to 
remain at Daleville under any circumstances 
whatever. That whole thing is wild-fire. The 
conservative men of the church to-day are ig- 
noring it entirely. There is scarcely an editor 
in Methodism who gives it space m our official 
papers. And nearly every college president of 
any standing simply scofts at the ''second bless- 
ins:" and eradication theorv. Some of our ablest 
and wisest men of the East have written volumes 
which simply wipe it out. One of these men pro- 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I3I 

poses taking out of the discipline some of the 
-questions which are asked young men on ente^ 
ing conference. He reasons that the embarrass- 
ment these questions bring to these m.en is need- 
less. The following are those especially re- 
ferred to : 

"Do you expect to be made perfect in love in 
this life?" 

''Are you earnestly striving after it?" 

This last question used to contain the term 
"groaning," instead of ''striving." But that 
sounded harsh on refined sensibilities, so they 
have put in this milder term which still is out of 
harmony with the culture of the age. 

Then you will notice that our new hymnal does 
not contain many of those old hymns of Charles 
Wesley which dealt more especially with inbred 
sin and sanctification. The revisers recognized 
that the culture of this age is such that those 
terms fall unpleasantly on the ears of refined 
people. It is only a matter of time now until we 
will have our creed revised to correspond with 
the advanced thought and preaching of our day. 
You never hear a cultured man refer to hell, 
much less preach on it. In fact, it is not be- 
lieved in by the best scholars. Most of our lead- 
ing preachers are treating on the various phases 
of ethical culture, modern events, and the biog- 
raphies of the leading men in literature. 



132 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

Now, my brother, I am thinking seriously of 
sending you to Daleville next year. It pays 
twelve hundred and parsonage, while you are 
getting only eight where you are. But keep it 
quiet. There will be worse than thunderbolts in 
the clear sky when the appointments are read< 
Yours fraternally, J. M. Charm. 

While Dr. Charm was sealing the letter writ- 
ten to Brother Ambitious he was summoned to 
the door by the ringing of the bell. 

"Good morning, Dr. Charm. I am glad to 
fmd you at home. 

''Come in, Dr. Strong. I am pleased to have 
you call. I was thinking about you a moment 
ago. You are well, I hope?" 

"All well. I am so well myself, doctor, that 
I was pressed to call and tell you of it. I re- 
cently had the pleasure of attending the holiness 
camp meeting held at Daleville. Like many oth- 
ers, I had the impression that these meetings 
were of a schismatic nature, and conducted on 
fanatical lines; but I was most happily disap- 
pointed. The preaching was the best I have ever 
heard without any exceptions. Dr. Faithful is a 
most remarkable man and filled with the Holy 
Ghost. I was sorry you were not there, doc- 
tor." 

"It was not possible for me to spare the time, 
were I inclined to go. But to be frank with you, 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I33 

I am out of harmony with the teachings of these 
speciahsts. I am, in fact, opposed to these so- 
called holiness meetings." 

''That is why I wish you had been present. 
We must all concede that Brother True is doing 
a most remarkable work at Daleville. The mem- 
bership has more than doubled the last six 
months. I remember well when he attended one 
of these camp meetings three years ago, and 
since that time he has been a power for God. 
I often wondered why he was so extremely spir- 
itual ; but, doctor, I can throw some light on 
the matter now, for I sought the blessing of holi- 
ness at that camp meeting and after two days of 
mighty, agonizing prayer and a perfect devote- 
ment of all to God for time and eternity, with 
not even a mental reservation, but an unwaver- 
ing faith in the merits of the blood, I obtained 
this remarkable and exhilarating blessing of en- 
tire sanctification. I could not refrain, for the 
glory of God^ from telling you about it. It is a 
new world in which I live. The Lord is w^onder- 
fully opening up the Word to me. And the 
blessed consciousness that Jesus is enthroned in 
my soul is the greatest joy of my life. I cannot 
stop any length of time, doctor, this morning, 
but felt I must call to relate what God did for 
me. We might have a word of prayer together 
before we part." 



i;-;4 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

Dr. Strong was a shrewd man and always ex- 
ercised the best of judgment. He saw that Dr. 
Charm was in perfect misery while he was re- 
lating his experience. But he felt it his duty to 
give this testimony to the glory of God. So 
after this was briefly done it was not necessary to 
prolong the embarrassment. 

This visit and testimony were in remarkable 
contrast to the letters received and written by 
Dr. Charm. But instead of mellowing his spirit, 
it simply deepened the real opposition to Scrip- 
tural holiness in his own heart. Like Saul, the 
Spirit of God was departing from him. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I35 



CHAPTER XII. 

RESULTS. 

The scene at the Daleville Church two weeks 
after the camp meeting closed was glorious. 
Brother True had announced this as the day 
for the reception of members. He had for two 
weeks been engaged in calling, and getting bet- 
ter acquainted with those who were converted 
at the meeting. The Epworth League also did 
excellent service in this work. Under the 
splendid system of organized personal workers, 
every young person was looked after and brought 
into the church. They were also made to feel 
perfectly at home in the league work; besides 
being carefully instructed by special workers 
trained for this work. Every available space was 
occupied on this Sunday morning and yet a 
large number were not able to enter. It was 
a picture to melt the heart to see over one hun- 
dred received on probation at one time. Among 
this number were fathers and mothers, sons and 
daughters, brothers and sisters. More than 
twenty men who had been converted from lives 
of dissipation were there to take the church 
vows. Among that number was seen the tall 



136 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAX. 

figure of Dick Dawson. And there were Rob 
Leed, Bill Smith, i\Ir. Leed, young Boehler and 
the converted Roman Catholic. What a con- 
trast in these men as compared with a little 
more than three weeks previous to this time. 

A chorus of more than forty young people led 
in the songs. The old hymns seemed to possess 
new fire as the chorus and vast congregation ap- 
peared to vie with each other in singing the 
praises of God. 

Brother True announced for the opening song 
Number 563 in the hymnal: 

^'Onward, Christian Soldiers, 

Marching as to war, 
With the cross of Jesus, 

Going on before. 

"Christ our royal Master, 

Leads against the foe; 
Forward into battle, 

See his banners go !" 

After a most excellent and suitable sermon 
on the words, ''Stand fast, therefore, in the lib- 
erty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and 
be not entangled again with the yoke of bond- 
age," came the reception of members followed 
by a most blessed altar service. 

We mention this latter for it was here that 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I37 

Dick Dawson offered his first prayer in public, 
which no doubt will be remembered in Daleville 
for generations to come. 

Quite a number had volunteered to pray most 
fervently : and the Spirit was manifest in mighty 
power, vvhen Dick's voice was heard in tones 
loud and clear, as he offered the following peti- 
tion: 

*'Now Lord, I don't know much about this 
prayin' busness, but yer knows Dick Dawson is 
mighty willin' ter learn. I ain't known yer so 
as ter speak wnth yer very long, but our ac- 
quaintance it 'peers ter me is gettin' us on very 
good terms with each other. Now Lord, I have 
done lots o' damage ter yer busness in this 
town, but yer knows 1 tole yer how sorry I 
was fer the hul thing. I kep' my part o' the 
deal when I fed the sewer with that beer and 
whisky. Now I want ter see some more o' these 
poor boys what's gettin' all knocked out with 
this red hquor, brought ter see that there is 
goin' ter be a big settlin' up day. Now Lord, 
yer can use Dick Dawson ter yer heart's con- 
tent. And if yer got anything more what some 
o' these older folks call sang-ter-fer-ca-tion jus' 
let 'er come right away. Amen." 

This all goes to teach us what God can and 
will do with those fully surrendered to him, 
and relying entirely on the Holy Spirit, for 



I3S THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

bringing about results : for God alone "giveth 
the increase." We are also taught what may be 
expected when the truth as stated in his word 
is preached with ''the Holy Ghost sent down 
from heaven." The ordinary manuscript dis- 
course of coined sentences and apt quotations 
from our esteemed poets, but with little of gos- 
pel truth, will not bring about these results even 
though the speakers possess the eloquence of a 
Demosthenes. God alone, through the agency 
of the Holy Spirit which he has sent into the 
w^orld, is able to cope with the powers of hell. 
Not only has he given the Spirit which may be 
received by complying with the proper condi- 
tions, but he has also given the truth which is 
the instrument used of the Spirit for convicting 
the hearers. 

This accounts for the fact that oftentimes an 
unlettered person is used of God in the conver- 
sion of thousands, while the ministry of many 
a cultured clergyman is fruitless in conversions. 
It was the tnifh used in the days of Wesley— 
and not Wesley alone — that turned the world 
upside down. It was the truth used by Johna- 
than Edwards that made men fall to the ground 
when he preached on ''Sinners in the hands of 
an angry God." It is the truth regarding inbred 
sin and need of holiness of heart and life that 
makes Zion mourn for cleansing. When truth 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I59 

is Ignored, spiritual decline must and will follow. 
''Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall 
make you free." 

Rob Leed and Dick Dawson made many calls 
at the parsonage. Finally Dick was given a 
room there, where he might receive the advice 
and counsel of- Brother True. For Dick said 
one day in conversation with his pastor: 

"Yer see its like this, Mr. True, I ain't got 
any book learnin' except ter read a little, and 
I want ter do some talkin' on the street. Bob 
and me are goin' ter see if we can't get a few 
o' the boys ter quit ther drinkin' and poker play- 
in'. So yer see if I kin get yer ter help me out 
a little and give me a few pointers on this thing 
yer call salvation, I can do a little busness o' 
that kind. Then I want ter learn some o' the 
songs what yer sing, fer I kin help Bob out on 
that line. My mother could sing like a night- 
engale, and I catched a little o' this myself." 

Brother True's heart went out to this remark- 
able man, whom God was apparently preparing 
for some special work. 

It soon developed that Dick was not mis- 
taken in saying that he had inherited his mother's 
gift of song. His voice possessed a most re- 
markable quality. He was unconscious of its 
real power. Those that listened to him were 
apparently at first astonished, next delighted. 



I.iO THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

and later they would be overcome and carried 
away by the song and singer to altitudes of 
pathetic emotion they had never before experi- 
enced. 

It soon became his custom in company with 
Rob Leed to sing and speak upon the street 
nearly every evening. Men were fascinated with 
Dick's homely way of stating Gospel truths ; 
while the logic and earnestness of Rob Leed was 
most convincing. 

One of Dick's favorite songs and the one 
which appeared to move men most was Fanny 
Crosby's "Saved by Grace." Often this song 
was wafted on the air of those summer even- 
ings over the hills of Daleville, while many 
dropped their work and hastened to door or 
window, and in silence listened to the pathetic 
strains and touching words which bore the mes- 
sage of salvation. 

It was during these summer days that Grand- 
ma Sweet was confined for many weeks to her 
bed. She had sufifered greatly. Her recoverv 
was now despaired of. Ruth Norden had cared 
for her during these days and weeks with great 
tenderness. The influence of this old saint of 
God had been like an oasis in the desert. Ruth 
was learning many lessons in the perfect resig- 
nation of this dear old soul. It was the last 
evening that Grandma Sweet spent on earth, that 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I4I 

Dick Dawson sang this song referred to, the 
first time in Daleville. Her window was open, 
and she was enjoying the gentle breeze, when 
there came as a heavenly messenger on the wings 
of the night air, through that open window, the 
sweet voice of the singer, as he sang: 

"Some day the silver cord will break, 
And I no more as now shall sing: 

But, O, the joy when I awake 
Within the palace of the King." 

''Ruth, dear, do you hear that music, that 
song ? I can almost hear the angels call ! Can 
that be a human voice, Ruth?" 

''Yes, grandma, dear, that is Dick Dawson. It 
must be that he has a new song. I never heard 
him sing it before. Why just listen, grand- 
ma!" 

Again as if anointed with the unction of the 
Holy One, and coming from the shores of some 
celestial cHme the voice sings on: 

"Some day this earthly house will fall, 
I can not tell how soon 'twill be, 

But this I know my All in All 

Has now a home in heaven for me." 

"Yes, Ruth, dear, this old house in which I 
have lived nigh unto seventy-five years is about 



142 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

to fall, but he has a home in heaven for me. 
Praise his name!'' 

A peculiar stillness seemed to possess the city 
while the singer himself was apparently lost in" 
his song. The business men were at their doors 
and standing on the walk, intently listening as 
these gracious words fell on their ears : 

''Some day when fades the golden sun 

Beneath the rosy tinted west, 
My blessed Lord shall say, 'Well done!' 

And I shall enter into rest." 

As Rob and Dick disappeared in the distance 
and darkness, there came rolling over the still- 
ness of the night, like an unseen herald from 
the glory world, the last words of the chorus, 
bearing a rapturous message through the open 
window to dear old Grandma Sweet, who was 
about to experience the full meaning, which the 
words implied. 

"And I shall see him face to face, 
And tell the story saved by grace." 

These two monuments of God's saving grace 
did heroic work on the streets of Daleville. ]\Iany 
souls were rescued from the grip of Satan and 
his dens of sin. Dick became a most devoted 
student under the patient teaching of Brother 
True. He soon began to master the English 
language in a remarkable way. He was never 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I43 

found without a small Bible in his pocket. He 
soon had stored in his mind scores of choice 
passages. His memory was excellent. For this 
reason he retained what he heard and read. He 
could almost repeat a sermon after hearing it. 
Brother True always urged his converts to do 
much praying. He was not in the least in sym- 
pathy with those who taught that to continue 
asking for the same thing was an indication of 
weak faith. On the contrary, he taught that 
it was an indication of a strong faith ; for men 
of weak faith were never known to be mighty in 
prayer. So he said to Dick, soon after he came 
into his home, ''If you want to grow rapidly in 
your Christian experience, and if you want to 
defeat Satan on every corner become mighty 
in prayer. Don't spend less than two hours a 
day, Dick, on your knees before God. In this 
way you will become more and more like him, 
with whom you talk and commune. The great 
trouble, Dick, with many people, and even 
preachers, is that they do not prevail in prayer. 
They even teach that to simply ask God is suffi- 
cient. But the Bible teaches differently. You 
will find that Jacob prayed until he received the 
desired blessing, and thus became a prince wdth 
God. EHjah prayed seven times for rain. We 
do not know how long these prayers were, they 
may have been an hour each in length. But he 



144 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

did not say after praying once, 'Well, God knows 
we need rain and I have asked him for it, so I 
am not going to trouble my head over it any 
more.' No, he did not talk in that way, but he 
prayed until the answer came. It was but the 
least evidence, but it was an answer. So, Dick, 
be much alone with God and victory will be 
yours." 

With this kind of instruction Dick Dawson be- 
came a power in prayer. Men fairly feared his 
prayers. Many times on the streets of Daleville 
his cry to God made men quake because of their 
sins. He talked so much with his Heavenly 
Father that oftentimes when walking on the 
street he was heard to be in apparent conversa- 
tion with him. 

What we have said of Dick was much the 
same in the life of Rob Leed. He soon learned 
this same secret. Often they would be together 
for hours at a time. And much of this was spent 
in prayer. Rob had a definite call to preach and 
was licensed at the fourth quarterly conference. 
His masterful mind soon grappled with the 
truths of the Gospel. He had excellent delivery, 
and his logic was uncommon. His early edu- 
cation consisted of a little more than the regu- 
lar high school work. We must now leave these 
two heroes for a time and look into the closing 
work of the year. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I4S 



CHAPTER XIII. 

WILL HE RETURN ? 

Charles True had learned that the most impor- 
tant work of a pastor consists in conserving the 
work accomplished during a successful revival. 
He had observed many sad failures on this line. 
Often, indeed, after an earnest, devoted man 
of God succeeded in gathering in a host of con- 
verts during a series of meetings, some pastors 
would permit them to starve and stray as sheep 
without a shepherd and then cry, ''His work was 
a failure.'' 

So during the summer months when there are 
peculiar temptations to lure away the young. 
Brother True was vigilant in his devotion to his 
pastoral work. The prayer meetings were made 
of special interest. These were so large as to 
necessitate forming several departments, each 
under an efficient leader. In this way each in- 
dividual case was carefully looked after, so that 
during the summer season there were but fev/ 
who did not make spiritual advancement in their 
Christian experience. 

Great was the interest manifested as the fourth 
quarterly conference drew near. Some of the 



146 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

members had heard that Brother True was not 
to return to Daleville. This created no small stir 
among the greater part of the members. There 
were a few, to be sure, who had planned as well 
as plotted to secure a cEange. But even these 
were very quiet about it. Brother Waverly, in 
company with his wife, had taken an extensive 
journey during the summer months, but he had 
returned a few weeks before conference. His 
attitude toward the pastor had not changed ;n 
the least. The unpardonable sin had been com- 
mitted. It would require the removal of the 
pastor to quench the spirit of revenge and hatred 
which was burning in his soul. 

Dr. Charm appeared more determined than 
ever to remove Brother True, and in some way 
defeat the holiness work on the district. He w^as 
apparently blind to all that had been accom- 
plished on the Daleville charge. His decision 
had been made, regardless of any evidence which 
might be produced. He was not seeking evi- 
dence of good, but that of defeat. 

Under these circumstances it was not strange 
that more or less nervousness prevailed among 
the official board as the Fourth Quarterly Con- 
ference drew near. 

Brother True received word from Dr. Charm 
two weeks before the last quarterly conference, 
stating that he would arrive on the Saturday 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I47 

noon train, and hold the conference the same 
evening. He also said that because of the urg- 
ency of his work, he would leave on the night 
train for another point on the district. In this 
way he would not be there to conduct the Sun- 
day services. This all had the appearance of 
one fairly and squarely avoiding the issue.* In- 
deed, the very presence of Brother True was 
evidently embarrassing to Dr. Charm. Then he 
did not care to preach to so spiritual a congre- 
gation. His sermons would be in great contrast 
to those the people were accustomed to hear. 
Dr. Charm understood this and knew that he 
could speak with no liberty under those circum- 
stances. But the real secret of it all lay in the 
fact that he fairly despised these people who 
claimed the experience of heart holmess. 

When the time came for the quarterly confer- 
ence there was much stir among the members. 
Nearly every one of the official board was on 
hand. The conference convened in the church 
on Saturday evening. Many of the members 
were present who did not hold official position^ 
Dr. Charm was entertained at Brother Waverly*s 
home. The latter person accompanied the doc- 
tor to the quarterly conference. 

The work of the conference w^ent on very 
smoothly. All claims had been met in full. The 
missionary collection amounted {to more than 



148 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

two dollars per member. The salary was all paid 
and the pastor presented with fifty dollars as 
good measure. The membership had much more 
than doubled during the year. The spiritual con- 
dition of the church was most commendable. 

This was all in striking contrast with twelve 
months previous to this. There was now no 
demand for a spiritual pastor to be sent there. 
All they asked was the return of Brother 
True. They were waiting for an opportunity to 
express their desire regarding the matter. This 
was given when the business was concluded. 
Brother True withdrew from the room, going to 
his study in the parsonage, which was next door. 

Dr. Charm said in substance that the quarterly 
conference was now at liberty to express its de- 
sire regarding the return of their pastor. Broth- 
er Chase was the first to speak. Rising to his 
feet, he said: 

^T believe that I shall voice the sentiment of 
this conference in what I am about to say. The 
statistics will surely bear me out when I say 
that to my knowledge we are closing the most 
remarkable year in the history of Daleville Meth- 
odism. We owe this, my friends, to the untir- 
ing zeal and efforts of our devoted pastor. I for 
one sincerely request his return without fail. 
So confident am I that this is the unanimous de- 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I49 

sire of this body that I do not beUeve it neces- 
sary to say more at this time." 

Brother Waverly showed signs of nervousness, 
while Brother Chase was speaking. Brother 
Slack, who had come in late, was also in a bad 
mood. He was always ready to second any move 
made by Brother Waverly. 

So, when Brother Chase was seated. Brother 
Slack's eyes were at once turned toward Waver- 
ly. It was understood between them that they 
must make some objection to the return of the 
pastor at this quarterly conference in order that 
there be some ground for his removal. Indeed, 
Dr. Charm had informed them of this necessity, 
and now the task must be performied. 

Brother Waverly at once arose and with some 
difficulty said : 

^'Brother Chase is mistaken if he thinks the 
return of our present pastor would meet with 
unanimous approval. There are some here who 
are most decidedly in favor of a change. They 
believe their reasons are such as to warrant this. 
Some of us have endured the year under grea.t 
embarrassment. This radical, if not fanatical 
preaching is more than some of us can endure. 
The unreasonable demands made on the member- 
ship are anything but rational. Much money has 
been expended in evangelistic work which might 
have been used to a much better advantage. Some 



150 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

people cannot adjust themselves to the unwise 
methods pursued by some preachers in their en- 
deavor to become popular as radicals, or in their 
unrestrained enthusiasm which borders on fanati- 
cism. I for one desire to express the wishes of 
some at least regarding this most important mat- 
ter. Daleville needs a level-headed man — one 
who will sustain the dignity of our church and 
the ministerial profession. I am decidedly op- 
posed to the return of Brother True.'' 

Brother Constant and Brother Slack were both 
on their feet at once. Dr. Charm gave Brother 
Slack the floor. 

''I ain't got much to say, but want to let this 
conference know that Brother Waverly has ex- 
pressed my idea exactly. I think we need such 
a man as Dr. Swift, who was pastor here some 
years ago. Everybody spoke well of him. But 
this year the to«vvn has been in an awful stir near- 
ly all the time. I want a change." 

Brother Constant was recognized by the chair- 
man and spoke very feelingly : 

'*Mr. Chairman : I am the oldest man here, both 
in years as well as in the history of the Dale- 
ville church. I was here before there was any 
Daleville. I owned the ground on which this 
building stands. I saw the first stone placed in 
this foundation. I have listened to every pastor, 
who has preached in that pulpit. I know them 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I5I 

all. I have not only heard them preach, but have 
listened to them in prayer meetings and in class 
meetings. I have been with them in their studies. 
I have listened to them in their conversation on 
the street. I have been with them beside the 
bedside of those who were dying. I have stood 
beside them at the grave. I have passed through 
special meetings with some of them. I believe 
I am impartial in my judgment. I know I love 
God and this people. This church is on my 
heart. I have led all its class meetings since it 
was organized. I love its members and all work 
in connection with it. I am sure you will not 
think me extravagant in my language if I say 
that our present pastor is the most godly man I 
ever met. 

''As to level-headedness I am sure he is second 
to but few. In fact, he is above the average in 
intelligence and intellectual ability. I am con- 
vinced that to remove him at this time would 
prove most disastrous. He has conserved the 
work as I have never known a man to do. I beg 
you, Mr. Chairman, put the question before this 
body and permit them to vote upon it ; and thus 
ascertain the real sentiment of this conference.'' 

Several were at once on their feet, but Dr. 
Charm said: ''I think that it will not be neces- 
sary to discuss this matter any further at this 
time. You all know that every Methodist preach- 



152 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

er's time is out at the end of each year. You 
must, therefore, be prepared for whatever may 
be deemed best by the cabinet. A motion to ad- 
journ will be in order/' This was made by 
Brother Waverly and the Fourth Quarterly Con- 
ference was at an end. There now remained but 
three weeks till the annual conference convened 
at Riverside. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I53 



CHAPTER XIV. 

HE REMAINS TRUE. 

The annual conference of this year convened 
at Riverside. This was a thriving city of ten 
thousand inhabitants. Dr. Strong was the pas- 
tor of this church. He was thoroughly capable 
of looking after this large body of ministers. In- 
deed, he greatly enjoyed it. The arrangements 
were complete. Every detail was carefully looker^ 
after. The large brick church building was a 
beautiful edifice, and well chosen for the work of 
an annual conference. 

The Presiding Bishop was one of the older 
mem.bers of that body. He was recognized as 
a spiritual man. It was not an uncommon thing 
for him to secure the services of some noted 
evangelist to conduct the evangelistic work at 
conference. The men he chose were usually 
definite on full salvation. But no arrangement of 
this character had been made for this year : it was 
left for the conference to choose one of their own 
number to conduct these services. 

The conference opened in good spirit. The sac- 
rament was conducted by the Bishop with unc- 
tion. Most of the ministers answered to the roll 



154 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

call. The business of the first day passed with- 
out anything out of the ordinary taking place. 

The second morning the characters of the Pre- 
siding Elders were passed and their reports read. 
There was special interest manifested when Dr. 
Charm rose to read his report. This was his first 
year to serve as Presiding Elder. Then it was 
known by many there had been some friction ex- 
isting in his mind regarding the work at Dale- 
ville. He was given to much talk, and had ex- 
pressed himself much too freely with those whom 
he considered his sympathizers. 

It was noticeable when he arose to read his re- 
port that he appeared somewhat nervous. His 
face was pale, and the hard lines, which were 
conspicuous upon his features, revealed the cold- 
ness of the spirit within. To the deeply spirit- 
ual it was a pathetic scene. It revealed the aw- 
ful result of man opposing God. It was a faint 
picture of the dark spirit which visited Saul when 
he wilfully disobeyed the Lord. 

Nearly every charge was mentioned in turn, 
and some comments made on them. When the 
name of Daleville was mentioned a wave of un- 
easiness passed over the audience. Several 
glances were exchanged among the brethren who 
were known to be Dr. Charm's most intimate 
friends. He had told them his purpose of humil- 
iating Brother True in such a manner that he 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I55 

would not soon forget it. We give his report as 
read concerning Daleville, that the reader may 
better judge the spirit of the man. His face 
grew harder as he began to read the report of 
this despised charge. 

''We are sorry,'' he began, ''that it becomes 
our painful duty to report some unpleasant things 
concerning the work at Daleville. This has been 
until this year one of our most excellent charges. 
The people were intelligent and loyal to our 
church and to our doctrines. Some of our ablest 
men have served this charge with acceptability. 
But this year the charge has been most seriously 
disturbed by unsound teaching and imprudent 
methods. Some of our leading members there 
have become so completely discouraged over 
matters as to be thinking strongly of uniting 
with one of the sister churches in the city. This 
is all the result of preaching and teaching the 
so-called doctrine of sanctification as taught jy 
these cranktified specialists, who are apparently 
covering our land to-day. The result has been' 
utter bewilderment in the minds of many, and 
disgust in the minds of others. It might be well 
for me to explain here that I was informed by 
one of the most prudent men on the charge some 
time during the winter, or early spring, that a 
holiness camp meeting was being planned to be 
held in June on the Daleville charge. At the ur- 



156 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

gent request of this loyal brother and some oth- 
ers I immediately wrote the pastor that I could 
not tolerate any such meeting on my district, as 
it would lead to rank fanaticism and other dis- 
turbances. I referred him to our Discipline, Par. 
193, Section 31, which reads as follows: 'No pas- 
tor shall engage an evangelist other than those 
appointed by the Bishop of his conference, with- 
out the written consent of his Presiding Elder.' 
In reply to this letter I was informed by a lay 
member of the charge, who was recently con- 
verted, and immature in experience, that the 
laity of the church had taken the responsibility 
of the camp meeting, and thus relieved the pastor 
of all responsibility in connection with it. This 
was a cunning device in shifting the responsibil- 
ity upon the laity. 

'This camp meeting was held in June by a 
noted evangelist among these specialists. I am 
informed by reliable men, who were present, 
that his teaching was entirely out of harmony 
with present day preaching in the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. I also learned that the altar 
scenes confirmed my previous convictions that 
these meetings lead to irrational and fanatical 
performances and conclusions. I trust. Bishop, 
you will take the proper steps to investigate the 
matter. I would suggest you appoint a commit- 
tee for this purpose. My only desire is to pre- 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I57 

serve the welfare and dignity of our great 
church, which I love as my own soul." 

The Bishop : ''Finish your report and the mat- 
ter will be investigated." 

At the conclusion of Dr. Charm's report, Dr. 
Strong arose and said: 

''Mr. Chairman: These are serious charges to 
bring against our pastor at Daleville, who is 
known to this conference as a most devout Chris- 
tian man. I move, sir, that this afternoon 
be devoted to a discussion of this most important 
matter, and that the accused brottier be given an 
opportunity to defend himself in open confer- 
ence." 

A half a dozen seconds were heard, while Dr. 
Charm quickly arose and said: "Bishop, I move 
that this matter be referred to a committee ap- 
pointed by yourself." 

Rev. Frank Policy: 'T second that motion." 

The Bishop : "All in favor of Dr. Strong's mo- 
tion to devote the afternoon to a discussion of 
this matter will rise." 

A large number arose. 

"Now, all in favor of referring the matter to 
a committee will rise." 

A few arose. 

"Dr. Strong's motion prevails. We will sing 
the doxology and meet again at tw^ o'clock." 

The large auditorium was packed at the hour 



158 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

appointed. The Bishop looked grave upon the 
vast audience as he arose to state the question 
before them. It was evident that he was greatly 
moved in spirit. Rising slowly he said : 

''Brethren in the ministry: This is a solemn 
occasion to us all. One of your number is to an- 
swer to certain charges which you heard this 
morning preferred against him. While these 
charges are not of an imm^oral nature, they cer- 
tainly are of profound importance to our church, 
and to the interests of this conference. I know 
of nothing which is of greater importance to the 
welfare of the Methodist Episcopal Church than 
to keep clear and unspotted from all error the 
sound doctrines which have been handed dowm to 
us from our forefathers. Indeed, these doctrines 
have stood the test of the keenest minds, and the 
research of the profoundest scholars. They have 
arisen not alone from cold logic and sound rea- 
son, but from the conscious experience of human 
hearts throbbing with the love of God which was 
vouchsafed to us through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

''Our doctrines ought to be well known to 
each of you. You, as Methodist preachers, have 
solemnly promised before God and our church 
that you would preach and defend them. To fail 
in this is a breach of trust on your part. We 
cannot permit unsound nor unscriptural teaching 
to be taught in our church. It is known to you 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 1 59 

that our standards include the twenty-five arti- 
cles of religion formulated by Wesley and the 
American Alethodists in 1784. Wesley's first 
fifty-three sermons and notes on the New Testa- 
ment. Upon this foundation we have built the 
greatest of Protestant churches in existence to- 
day. Against this foundation the gates of hell 
cannot prevail. We do well to remain here ; not 
becoming wiser than our forefathers regarding 
external verities ; nor permitting ourselves to be 
carried away by any wind of doctrine w^hich may 
be emphasized by any specialists or class of peo- 
pie on earth. 

'T.now present to you our brother in the min- 
istry, Charles H. True, pastor of our church at 
Daleville." 

Bro. True arose and quietly began thus : 

''Fathers and Brethren: I assure you at the 
very beginning of this defence, as you have 
named it, that it is all unexpected on my part. 1 
did not even anticipate anything of this character 
on coming to the seat of conference. It is my 
purpose, therefore, to briefly state to this body 
what I preach and what I teach to those placed 
under my ministry. 

To begin wath, permit me to state that I am 
a Methodist so far as denominational choice en- 
ters into the subject before us. I beHeve our 
doctrines from Alpha to Omega. I believe in 



l6o THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

our church government. To me it is no small 
thing to stand before the bar of a Methodist con- 
ference and take the sacred vows there imposed 
upon us. It was a serious matter with me when 
I promised before God and this body of minis- 
ters: that I would preach and defend the doc- 
trines of our church. I believed them to be the 
best doctrines known to the world. I believed 
them to be scriptural. I was conscious of God's 
approval w^hen I yielded myself to become a 
minister within the bounds of this conference and 
this church. I, however, realized how little I 
really was and what need for constant humilia- 
tion on my part. Just how the great God could 
trust me to convey his truth and his gospel to 
an unbelieving world was more than I could 
understand. To my mind, he was the one to 
whom I was really responsible, with all my love 
for the church and for my brethren in the min- 
istry and even our beloved Bishops. I never for- 
got that they must always hold a second place 
in my afifections. My God must ever remain 
first. He called me into the work and he shall 
judge me at last. 

Now as to my understanding of the doctrines 
of our church and what I teach and preach I 
will briefly state as follows : 

First: I believe all men ^e sinners. The 
whole world is guilty before God. There is none 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. l6l 

righteous ; no, not one, we have all come short 
of the glory of God. 

Second : That God desires all men to be saved 
from sin. As I live, saith the Lord God, I have 
no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that 
the wicked turn from his way and live. And 
whosoever will, let him take the water of life 
freely. 

Third : I believe that the atonement made by 
our Lord w^as sufficient for all. I am in perfect 
harmony with the language and thought convey- 
ed in the twentieth article of religion as stated 
in our Discipline, which is as follows : The offer- 
ing of Christ once made is that perfect redemp- 
tion, propititation and satisfaction for all the sins 
of the whole world, both original and actual, and 
there is none other satisfaction for sin but that 
alone. 

Fourth : I believe the Holy Spirit is in the 
world to convict of sin, of righteousness and of 
judgment. If men will they can repent and turn 
to God. 

Fifth: I believe that men are justified by faith 
in the atoning merits of Jesus' blood: that with- 
out this faith there can be no evangelical salva- 
tion. 

Sixth: I believe that when we are justified we 
are also regenerated: that this regeneration or 
new birth consists of that divine work of grace 



l62 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. , 

in the heart, whereby the whole spiritual nature 
consisting of the will, the thoughts and the feel- 
ings are renewed in part, but not completely. It 
does not imply new faculties but the rectifica- 
tion of those faculties already existing. 

Seventh : I believe in original sin. By this I 
understand that depraved condition or state of 
the spiritual nature as a result of Adamic sin. I 
further believe that regeneration does not remove 
this sinful state or corruption from the soul: 
hence a regenerated person may possess this de- 
praved or unclean heart. This original sin can- 
not be pardoned but may be cleansed. 

Eighth : I believe we may be sanctified wholly 
by faith in the cleansing efficacy of Jesus' blood. 
This is taught in Acts 26: 18, 'That they may re- 
ceive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among 
them which are sanctified by faith that is in 
ME." Also in Acts 15: 9, we have this scriptural 
proof that it is wrought by faith, 'And put no 
difiference between us and them, purifying their 
hearts by faith/ 

Ninth: I believe that entire sanctification 
cleanses the soul from all inbred sin, and fills it 
with the Holy Spirit. 

Tenth: I believe this to be a distinct work of 
grace, and must be wrought subsequent to regen- 
eration: and is obtainable by consecration, faith 
and prayer. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I63 

Eleventh: I believe in a constant growth in 
grace, expansion of soul, and greater capacities 
for taking in God. 

I am firmly convinced, after a careful study of 
the Word, that this experience of entire sanctifi- 
cation is the normal experience of the new dis- 
pensation. With it the church of God becomes 
the Spirit incarnate. The world is convinced of 
sin, when in the glory and power of this experi- 
ence, and the blood-washed throng of believers 
stand forth without spot and without wrinkle. 
This, my brethren, is what I preach. This is 
what I teach. It was for the promotion of this 
Pentecostal experience that we held the camp 
meeting in June. As a result of this work the 
Daleville charge has more than doubled its mem- 
bership this year. Hundreds have been converted. 
Many of these from lives of dissipation and open 
sin. If this is fanaticism, I must continue to 
preach it. If this has disturbed the city of Dale- 
ville, I say let all the cities in this nation become 
disturbed likewise. If this will rend churches, 
let us have a general rending at once. If this 
doctrine is not in harmony with the preaching 
of modern Methodism, I say let modern Meth- 
odism return to her first love, and become as an- 
cient in doctrine as it was in the days of our 
forefathers. If they w^ere right, some of us must 
be wrong. If they preached the truth, some of 



164 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

US are not preaching it. Surely truth has not 
changed. It is as unchangeable as its Author. 
I stand by this unchanging truth of complete re- 
demption from ALL sin through the merits of our 
exalted Christ who liveth and reigneth forever at 
the right hand of the majesty on high." 

There was profound silence during this brief 
statement by Brother True. He spoke quietly but 
earnestly. Every word was evidently believed 
by him. There was not the slightest indication 
of nervousness. He was calm and self-possessed 
from start to finish. But the sparkle of his eyes 
when greatly moved indicated the fire wdthin his 
soul. There was much more in him than was 
seen. 

When Brother True was seated the Bishop 
arose and said: 

''Brethren, you have heard our brother's de- 
fense and statement of what he preaches and 
teaches: now I desire to ask if there are any 
ministers present who attended the camp meet- 
ing referred to on' the Daleville charge. It ap- 
pears to me that the burden of Dr. Charm's 
complaint centered around this camp meeting. 
That the conference may have a clear under- 
standing of all facts in connection with that 
specific meeting, I desire to learn if there be any 
present who attended. If so, please rise. 

Several rose, among the number was Dr. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 165 

Strong. The Bishop : ''Dr. Strong, I see you rose 
with others, were you present at that meeting?" 

"I was, Bishop." 

''How much time did you spend there?" 

I was present through the entire meeting." 

"Would you object stating to the conference 
what you saw and heard at that time, and how 
it impressed you? I think it will aid us in get- 
ting at the facts in the case." 

"I have no objection. Bishop, if it is your wish, 
to state what I observed and experienced at that 
time. I shall endeavor to speak briefly and clear- 
ly regarding the facts in the case." 

"Go to the platform! Go to the platform!" 
came from several voices. 

Dr. Strong stepped to the platform and faced 
the vast audience. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 167 



CHAPTER XV. 

NEARING THE END. 

When Dr. Strong faced that audience of min- 
isters and prominent lay members, it was evident 
to all that he was deeply moved. His whole be- 
ing was throbbing with deep, intense emotion. 
Such was his love and sympathy for Brother 
True that it was with difficulty he restrained him- 
self while he made his defense. He knew him 
as few did. He was also alive to Dr. Charm's 
real motive in making this cruel thrust at one 
who was his superior in every way, except in 
ecclesiastical position. Dr. Strong was well ac- 
quainted with those who were willing to sacrifice 
principle, if necessary, to gain their selfish de- 
sires. Some of these brethren were not friendly 
to him, because he would not gratify their am- 
bitions by giving them unmerited positions in the 
conference. Having served as Presiding Elder, 
he had opportunity of knowing them. He was 
conscious that back of this small outburst in Dr. 
Charm's report, there were black volumes of 
untold meanness. It was dawning upon him as 
it never had before, how adroitly and cunningly 
men opposed and fought the experience of holi- 



l68 THE EXTREAIELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

ness. Much of the so-called discretion on the 
part of ministers was but silent opposition to this 
blessing. The very presence of one, who pos- 
sessed the experience, made many of them un- 
comfortable. This present session of conference 
was teaching him important lessons on this line. 
Men who had formerly been his best friends were 
now shunning his companionship. The indwell- 
ing Christ in the man seemed to rebuke them 
for the presence of carnality in their souls. He 
saw now that to walk the Holy Way might mean 
much loneliness and separation. 

Much of the past was now being made clear 
to Dr. Strong's mind. Thrusts had been made 
at holiness by prominent men in the church in 
such a way that the unwary might not discover 
it. But those who had been crucified with the 
blessed Christ could feel the sharp thorns which 
pierced his brow. For every thrust made at holi- 
ness is another slap given, another nail driven, 
another false witness misrepresenting him. 

He remembered well, how a certain prominent 
educator, in an address on education, had grown 
red in the face and with clenched fist spoke 
vehemently while he denounced in bitter tones 
those w^ho mounted a hobby horse and could not 
dismount. Just what was meant by the hobby 
horse was somewhat of a mystery to him at that 
time, but now he saw that this same brother was 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 169 

striking at those who stood firm for hoHness. 
Thus another nail was driven into the Saviour's 
hand ; another spear was thrust into his bleed- 
ing side. 

All this was an exhibition of that carnal mind 
within which is ''enmity against God, for it is not 
subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." 
This would-be teacher was kicking against the 
goads. He was fighting God. 

He had listened to another who was prominent 
among church dignitaries. At one time he had 
been a humble preacher on a small circuit. He 
then had the experience of holiness and preached 
it. Souls were sanctified under his ministry. But 
at the time now referred to, he was Presiding 
Elder of a large district. Dr. Strong had heard 
him say in a sermon that he believed in sanctifi- 
cation, but not in the kind some people had. He 
then gave the following incident: 'T once knew 
an old brother who was great on sanctification. 
He was always telling how God had sanctified 
him. One day I chanced to see this old brother 
on the street and discovered that his sanctifica- 
tion was soaked in tobacco juice. Yes, I believe 
in sanctification, but not in that kind." 

The coarse laughter, which followed, was evi- 
dence that this brother was endeavoring to tickle 
the carnal ear. The impression conveyed by this 
story was this, that those who professed holiness 



170 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

were people of that type. It was another thorn 
in the Saviour's brow. Another smite upon his 
cheek. It was fighting hoHness under a pretense 
of being friendly to it. Another Judas among 
the twelve. 

All this was having its effect on Dr. Strong. 
Indeed it profoundly stirred his soul. And now^ 
to see one whom he knew to be one of the holiest 
men he had ever met censured in this manner 
before a whole conference was indeed the very 
climax of villainy. 

So moved was he, that those who knew him 
best could perceive, that he would speak in no 
ordinary manner. Standing before that throng 
with a tinge of righteous indignation in his ap- 
pearance, and a slight tremor in his deep voice, 
he said: 

''Mr. Chairman and brethren in the ministry: 
This is no ordinary occasion : but to my mind a 
most extraordinary one. The issues of this hour 
reach out into eternity. The question involved 
is one which affects every conference in ]\Ieth- 
odism; every preacher who stands behind the 
sacred desk ; every layman who sits in our pews. 
It touches the most vital phase of our Christian 
religion, namely — that of heart holiness. Is 
the doctrine tenable or not? Does God's w^ord 
teach it or not? Does the Methodist Church 
stand for it or not? Have we a right to promote 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I7I 

it or not? These are no ordinary questions I 
Upon the answers given them will depend wheth- 
er or not we shall stand or fall ! If we fall how 
great will be that fall ! 

I am asked what I saw at the Daleville camp 
meeting. I am expected to give you some in- 
telligence regarding that ''questionable gather- 
ing." I cannot describe it to you. I cannot 
explain it. I cannot define it. Can man by 
searching find out God? Paul tried it, but ut- 
terly failed: He traced the redemption scheme 
as far as he could, and then in his despair and 
bewilderment before its limitless and boundless 
shores and inexhaustible depths and summitless 
height he exclaims : ''O, the depth of the riches 
both of the wisdom and knowledge of God : how 
unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past 
finding out !" 

You will pardon me for some personal allu- 
sion, when I tell you that the Daleville meeting 
proved to be my Peniel. There it was that I 
met God face to face. There I learned that pro- 
found secret of the Lord. It was there I en- 
tered my Gethsemane and made my perfect con- 
secration and surrendered my all to my Father's 
wull. It was at that meeting that I was led to 
Calvary and was crucified with my Lord. I felt 
the nails. I tasted the bitter cup. The dark- 
ness settled about me for a much longer period 



1/2 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

than three hours. My God seemed to forsake 
me ; my enemies seemed to conquer me ; my 
friends to leave me; I was alone, yet not alone. 
He who said ''I will never leave thee nor for- 
sake thee" was near at hand. In the miidst of 
my deepest anguish I cried ''It is finished. I 
am thine, forever and forever thine.'' The dark- 
ness then vanished, the clouds were dissolved: 
but Jesus remained. His glory filled my enrap- 
tured soul. His music put my heart in tune with 
heaven. His beauty surpassed that of all the 
daughters of Jerusalem. O I cannot describe it ! 
How can the language of earth describe the bliss 
of a blood-washed soul? I can only sing with 
the poet: 

*'Jesus comes, he fills my soul, 

Perfected in love, I am ; 
I am every whit made whole. 

Glory ! glory ! to the Lamb.'' 

But you ask me what has this to do with the 
question before us? It answers it. This is the 
result. If the result is wrong, then the meeting 
was wrong. If the result was glorious, then it 
was a glorious meeting. I am here to affirm 
that the result was glorious : To me it was the 
dawning of a never -setting sun ; the breaking 
of an immortal day. It was the coronation of 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I73 

King Jesus within my soul. My mourning days 
were over and joy unspeakable and full of glory 
reigned within. Can I forget the Daleville meet- 
ing? Yes; when a mother forgets the child of 
her bosom ! When the sun forgets to shine ! 
When God forgets to pardon ! and Calvary's 
stream forgets to cleanse ! 

Again I am asked what I saw there. The 
natural eye cannot see God's mysterious work. 
It requires a keener vision than that of flesh 
to behold the working of the Spirit. But I 
will relate what was visible. I saw scores upon 
scores converted. I saw great numbers of be- 
lievers enter the fountain of cleansing and wash 
their robes in the Blood of the Lamb. I saw 
conviction settle like a dark pall upon the throngs 
of ungodly who were present, as the man of 
God held before them the unyielding justice of 
Jehovah, and the greatness of the sacrifice they 
were rejecting, and the love they spurned. I 
saw the lowest and vilest fall as dead at the 
feet of God's Son^ and cry for mercy. I saw 
their illuminated countenances as they arose with 
condemnation banished and pardon written in 
letters of love upon their melted hearts. I saw 
gamblers with hard faces and stony hearts trans- 
formed by grace divine. I heard their cries for 
mercy rend the night air until their companions 
were also smitten with awful conviction, and 



lyj THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

fled to God. I saw a demonized saloonkeeper 
lying upon his face at the altar in mighty agony 
of soul for the untold sins he had committed 
against his God. I heard his shout of triumph 
when the unseen messenger came from the glory 
world and spoke his sins forgiven. I saw this 
same man empty barrel after barrel of beer and 
whisky into the sewers of Daleville. 

Do you believe the old gospel has lost its pow- 
er? Do you beheve the Son of God must lose 
in this battle against sin? Think you the 
Prophet was mistaken when he said : ''He shall 
not fail, nor be discouraged until he set judg- 
ment on the earth and the isles shall wait for 
his law ? Do you think the days of revivals are 
o'er ? I say nay ! They are not o'er ; but we 
have failed as Ahab of old in that we have for- 
saken the commandments of the Lord and have 
followed Balaam. We must hasten to Carmel 
and repair the altar of the Lord God of Israel, 
which is broken down and present our bodies a 
living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, 
and when all is upon his altar we can cry with 
the old prophet: ''Lord God of Abraham, Isaac 
and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou 
art God in Israel." Then shall we behold and 
see the fire of God descend from heaven to con- 
sume the dross of sin and bring consternation 
into the ranks of Baal's prophets. God is not 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAX. I75 

dead, but we have followed cunningly devised 
fables and are sought after by those who have 
itching ears and heap to themselves teachers 
after their own lusts. 

You ask me why these so-called holiness camp 
meetings? I answer by asking: Why the Refor- 
mation ? Why the revival under Wesley ? Why 
a John Inskip to carry the message of full sal- 
vation around the world? 

The doctrines preached at these camps reveal 
God's method of dealing with sin. This is why 
they are so despised by Satan and ignored by 
cold churches. I repeat that the doctrine of holi- 
ness reveals God's method of deahng with the 
sin problem. It is the only doctrine preached 
to-dav that does. All other theories teach how 
to "control," "subdue" or "handle" sin. Holi- 
ness teaches how God destroys sin. Jesus came 
to destroy sin. Jesus is not a failure. He can 
do what he came to do. Your suppression theory 
misrepresents him, and robs him of his glory. 
We can suppress sin without God's assistance. 
God's method is a perfect cure. It is perfect 
cleansing. It is utter extermination. He uses 
fire. Fire purifies through and through. "He 
(Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost 
and with fire." This means destruction. Fire 
does not cover over : does not suppress : It burns 
aw^ay. "And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier 



I/O THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi 
and purge them as gold and silver, that they 
may offer unto the Lord an offering in right- 
eousness." 

The Methodist Church was born in a holiness 
meeting. The holy club at Oxford is proverbial 
among us. John Wesley spent the greater part 
of his life preaching and teaching scriptural 
holiness. Around him gathered a host of holi- 
ness evangelists. They were not all school men. 
Some of them had limited knowledge in letters. 
But they were graduates of Pentecost University, 
and received their diplomas from the Holy Spirit 
sealed with Jesus' Blood. They were authorized 
by the infinite God to go and preach the gospel 
to every creature. They went forth to extermi- 
nate the powers of hell. They groaned in prayer 
and labored in love. ''Full salvation" "was their 
cry. A complete redemption for all. 

We have dropped the "full" and the "com- 
plete" and the "perfect." This has so displeased 
God that he has sent forth another humble army 
to take up the cry of "full," "complete" and "per- 
fect" salvation. They are from among us. We 
have no right to despise them. They are not 
asking for another ecclesiastical system. They 
do not advocate another church. They buy their 
own tents. They gather in groups among, God's 
trees or upon hi? broad prairies. They are not 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I77 

antagonistic, but seek rather for unity. They 
are the most faithful in our churches. Their 
seat is never vacant at class or prayer meeting. 
They are among the faithful few on every 
charge. They are drinking from the same foun- 
tain of salvation others are drinking from, but 
they have gone deeper. They are eating fruit 
from the same Tree of Life, but they are pick- 
ing from the top branches. They are traveling 
the same road, but are in the very center. They 
are climbing the same mountain, but are higher 
up. They dwell in the same temple, but have 
entered the holy of holies. They have the same 
Spirit, but they have been sealed. 

Are we to look upon these godly people as 
fanatics? Are they to be despised and cast 
out as an unclean thing? Are these preachers, 
who are superior in grace to be relegated to some 
back woods circuit, because they have the cour- 
age of their convictions, and rebuke a cold 
church and sin cursed world? 

Rather than stoop to such meanness I would 
that my hand should lose its cunning, and my 
tongue should cease to speak. Let us rather 
enter the same fountain, that we may be made 
whole. Let us seek the same baptism with the 
Holy Ghost. 

Bishop, I know this brother whom they ac- 
cuse of wrong doing. I was his Presiding Elder 



178 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

for four years. He has not had the many privi- 
leges some have. He never graduated in any 
school of theology. He has no diploma from 
any great university. But he is not an ignoramus. 
Few in this conference are his equals as preach- 
ers. As a soul-winner he stands far ahead of 
all present. To my knowledge he has won more 
souls within the last few years than any five 
men on this conference floor. 

As to his devotion to God I can say that he 
surpasses any who have come under my observa- 
tion. When others are asleep this brother is 
wrestling with God for souls. When many are 
too stupid to call on their parishioners he is out 
among the lowdy pointing them to the Lamb of 
God. When the crowns are decked, that of 
Charles H. True will be laden with many stars. 
When the mansions are assigned us in the New 
Jerusalem his will be near the great Throne. 
When the songs are sung he wnil be among those 
w^ho sing ''as it were a new song before the 
throne, . . . and no man could learn that 
song but the hundred and forty and four thous- 
and which were redeemed from the earth."- 

When Dr. Strong stepped from the platform 
the old Bishop arose, and taking the Hymnal 
turned to No. 608 and said: 

"Brethren, I can think of nothing more ap- 
propriate at this time than for us to sing from 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I79 

the very depths of our souls this old Hymn, 
which has proved an inspiration to thousands 
when surrounded by the fogs of doubt and un- 
belief: 

''Faith of our fathers ! living still 
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword; 

O how our hearts beat high with joy 
Whene'er we hear that glorious word : 

Faith of our fathers ! Holy faith : 
We will be true to thee till death/' 

After singing this old hymn the eight o'clock 
missionary meeting \vas announced and the 
Bishop pronounced the benediction. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. l8l 



CHAPTER XVI. 

HOME AT LAST. 

Dr. Strong- had been a member of this confer- 
ence for many years. He had filled places of 
responsibility in it. Those who knew him best 
had confidence in his judgment. As a speaker 
he always commanded attention. He was fear- 
less in advocating any principle he thought to 
be right. Convictions grappled his soul intense- 
ly: they seemed to go through his very being. 
His keen insight into the motives of men en- 
abled him to detect many of their schemes and 
plans for selfish ends. He saw^ at once into the 
unrighteous attack on Brother True. He also 
realized that it was time to strike definitely at a 
thing which would result most disastrously to 
the conference and church at large. 

Dr. Charm had overestimated his own popu- 
larity. He had also misjudged the real condi- 
tions existing in the conference. While many 
of the brethren were lacking in real burning 
convictions on the question of heart hoHness, 
they were not to be led astray, by one whom they 
knew w^as seeking to promote the interest of his 
own selfish heart. No doubt a man of good 



l82 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

standing and one whom they had confidence in 
could sway many of them to take a definite stand 
against hoHness. The great lack was a deep- 
seated personal conviction w^hich would defy 
opposition. Men with such conviction are rare, 
but such are essential to bring things to pass. 
Most men are swayed by the convictions of a 
few. How important that those few be right. 

Dr. Strong's defense of Brother True and the 
camp meeting overw^helmed all opposition. There 
was nothing to say when he finished but to pro- 
nounce the benediction. Even to suggest a fur- 
ther discussion of the m.atter would only increase 
the embarrassment. The Bishop saw this and 
acted accordingly. 

We need not dwell upon the usual business of 
the conference : suffice to say that the Bishop 
in charge was at least in sympathy with the doc- 
trine of scriptural holiness. He even urged the 
brethren to preach it definitely to their people. 
He knew full well, that the drift in the church 
was decidedly in opposition to the experience of 
heart holiness. It was manifested by silent con- 
tempt, and cunningly devised sarcasm. The is- 
sue was never met fairly and squarely. He knew 
that nearly all the holiness literature came not 
from the Methodist press, but from the press 
of the holiness movement. The keen observer 
cannot but see that the gulf between the two is 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 183 

becoming fixed: but the drift is not on the side 
of hoHness. 

Dr. Charm requested a transfer and it was 
granted him. When the appointments were read 
it was learned that Dr. Strong was made Presid- 
ing Elder of Riverside district and Charles H. 
True was returned to Daleville. 

The work on the district now began in earnest. 
Many of the brethren returned to their fields 
of labor with new zeal and an intensified purpose 
to win souls. At Daleville plans were formulat- 
ed for real aggressive work. The Epworth 
League arranged for definite personal work 
among the young. Special meetings were also 
planned to begin the first of January. There was 
also quite a stir among the church members and 
many of the outsiders, regarding a new church 
building. The present one was entirely too small 
for the congregations. The trustees were request- 
ed to take the matter into consideration and if 
possible formulate some plans for definite work 
in the spring. 

But long ago One said "My ways are not 
your ways, neither are my thoughts your 
thoughts." He who spans the centuries with a 
glance and sees the secrets of man afar off, has 
plans of his own. Indeed it is good we cannot 
lift the vail which conceals the future from our 



184 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

view. No doubt the joys or sorrows which await 
us would overwhelm and utterly destroy us. 

Brother True was in the midst of his toils with 
brighter prospects before him than he had ever 
hoped for, when he was seized with a violent 
attack of typhoid fever. Everything was done 
for him that kind hands and loving hearts could 
do ; but God has other plans than those which 
seem best to us. The critical period was watch- 
ed with the greatest anxiety. The physician re- 
mained all the night through, but the morning 
dawned with no hope. Another voice had said: 
'Tt is enough, come up higher." 

Among those near Brother True during these 
days of suffering was Dick Dawson and Rob 
Leed. Their love for him surpassed that of 
earthly ties. Indeed the love of brothers by the 
ties of nature is not to be compared with that 
which seals hearts as one in the love of Christ. 
Often they were requested to pray for him in 
his presence. It was a most pathetic picture. 
To Dick prayer had become the very breath of 
heaven. He lived in the holy of holies. To himi 
Jesus had become the greatest of realities. He 
seemed to behold him constantly as in his very 
presence. His prayers were of that conversa- 
tional type. Jesus was so near. Often when 
pouring out his soul to God great tears would 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 185 

Steal down his large cheeks revealing the tender- 
ness of the heart within. 

Dick was not resigned to the way of divine 
providence regarding Brother True. He could 
not understand why his dearest earthly friend 
should be taken away, in the midst of his suc- 
cess and labors of love. Like many who pray 
for the recovery of those they love, he believed 
God should answer according to his wishes re- 
gardless of his own purposes. Brother True saw 
this and the danger it might lead to : so he en- 
deavored to teach him the necessity of saying 
in every prayer, "Thy will be done." One day, 
Dick had prayed most fervently and intimated 
in his prayer that God w^as under obligation to 
raise him up, because of the prayers offered in 
his behalf. Seeing his error Brother True took 
him kindly by the hand and in his weakness en- 
deavored to give him the counsel needed. 

"Dick/' he said, ''do you think God ought to 
raise me up from this sickness?" 

"Well it 'peers ter me, Mr. True, as we had 
prayed so much fer you that he would surely 
answ^er." 

"Don't you believe that God can answer your 
prayer without restoring me to health?" 

"I don't see how he kin, when we have wanted 
you made well so much. I don't see how he kin 
answer without saying yes." 



l86 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

''But, Dick, have you pray-ed as you ought? 
In all matters when God's will is not clearly 
known we must ever say 'Thy w^ill be done.' It 
may be his will that I go home at this time ; so 
you must say as Jesus said in Gethsemane, 'Not 
my will but thine be done.' Now, Dick, I want 
you to pray for me, but do it in this wa}^ Tell 
God that you are willing to abide by his decision 
in the matter. Will you do it, Dick?" 

"You know, Mr. True, I will do anything fer 
you." 

"Well if you will do anything for me, God's 
will is of so much greater importance than mine, 
you surely are willing he should have his way." 

"I think I see yer point, so will try. to pray 
like that this time; but it does seem queer that 
yer can't stay." 

Dick bowed very reverently beside his dearest 
friend's bed and in a most pathetic manner tried 
to become reconciled to God's way. 

"Now, good Lord," he said, "yer knows all 
about this talk we have had about your way and 
our way. It 'peers to us that we ought ter be 
able to agree on so important a matter as this ; 
but yer see we don't like ter lose our best friend. 
It seems yer could kind'er fix things up to leave 
him here awhile anyway. But, Lord, we won't 
quarrel with yer, even if it breaks Dick Dawson's 
poor old heart. Yer Son said in that garden 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 187 

where he was prayin' till he sweat blood that he 
would give up ter your will. So we want ter 
say also that we are willin' ter let you have yer 
own way. But don't ferget poor old Dick wants 
yer to go as easy as yer can, fer its mighty hard 
to lose this man what has been so kind to us, 
and told us so many good things about you. But 
if yer must have him, Lord, put a big crown 
on him fer Dick's sake, and now yer will have 
ter look after Dick yerself. It's pretty hard ter 
say it and mean it, but Dick Dawson gives up 
and says that yer can please yerself about the 
matter, but don't ferget how bad we feel about 
it, for Jesus' sake. Amen." 

Those present were overcome with emotion un- 
der these simple plain words of one who desired 
to please his God. It was a lesson in resigna- 
tion they would not soon forget. 

The day before the end came Dr. Strong was 
sent for. He had not been informed up to this 
time of the seriousness of Brother True's con- 
dition. He arrived on the night train. Dick 
and Rob met him at the station and escorted him 
to the parsonage. Quite a number of friends 
were present. Somehow it v/as so hard to keep 
away from this messenger of God, who had been 
such a source of inspiration to them all. 

Dr. Strong was a courageous man, but his 
heart was as tender as that of a child. It was 



l8S THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MANc 

with great difficulty he controlled his emotions 
after learning the real condition. Their meeting 
will never be forgotten by those present. Not a 
word was uttered for several minutes. It was 
that silence w^hich speaks louder than any hu- 
man voice. There was in reality volumes spoken 
without a word being uttered. Such silence is 
understood by only a few. There are certain cir- 
cumstances and conditions which enter into the 
verv warp and woof of such an occasion. These 
men knew w^hat this material had cost them. 
They understood; others wondered. Brother 
True w^as the first to break the silence. 

"Well, doctor, the end came much sooner than 
I expected. It was my desire to remain with you 
to win many souls. But his will is supreme." 
We quietly say Amen to it all." 

"Yes, yes ; his will is the best. We now see 
through a glass darkly, but then face to face. 
Our Father knows what is best. We must be 
resigned; we are resigned. Is the salvation you 
preached to others sufficient to sustain you as 
you near your last enemy? Have you victory 
and confidence w^hich dispels all fear?" 

It w^as with much difficulty that Brother True 
spoke. He w^as fast sinking and extremely weak. 
But slowly he uttered a few sentences which are 
immortal to many. 

"There is no fear here^ for Jesus is with me. 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 189 

There is no sting in death, for sin has been de- 
stroyed. There is no darkness, for the dawn of 
an immortal day is breaking. My trust is in the 
atonmg Blood." 

He rested a few moments and again spoke in 
broken sentences. 

"Tell the brethren that holiness will not fail 
them at the last hour. O what joy to feel all 
sin destroyed. Tell them to preach it. If I had 
a hundred years to live I would spend them 
preaching full salvation.'' 

Again he faltered, as it was with great effort 
he uttered each sentence. Dr. Strong at his re- 
quest offered a most fervent prayer. Poor Dick 
wept as though his heart would break. Rob 
was too much overcome even to speak. Like 
his mother his heart aches were concealed. 

Brother True now rested a few hours. Most 
of those present also retired for the remainder 
of the night. 

Again the morning dawned: it was Brother 
True's last morning on earth. He was to receive 
his crown before another sun set. He was now 
too weak to speak, but a few words at a time. 
He awoke suddenly from one of his short naps 
and called for Dr. Strong, who was immediately 
summoned from the adjoining room. When he 
appeared Brother True said in broken words : 



igO THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

'^O— doctor— the— Blood— the— Blood— is— 
all — my — plea — hallelujah — it — cleanses — me !" 

"Traise God, my dear brother, for the cleans- 
ing blood. I will meet you soon where we shall 
ever sing of its efficacy. Yes, Dick and Rob and I 
are on the way. We shall meet you in the New 
Jerusalem," said Dr. Strong. 

"Dick — can't — you — sing — for — ^me — about — 
the— Blood?" 

It was a most difficult task for Dick to sing, 
under these circumstances, but he looked to God 
ir^r the grace necessary and sang Brother True's 
favorite revival song. 

"There is a fountain filled with blood 

Drawn from ImmanueFs veins, 
And sinners plunged beneath that flood, 

Lose all their guilty stains." 

When the fifth verse was sung Brother True's 
face seemed to be surrounded with a halo of 
glory. He made an eflfort to join in the song, 
but was too weak. Dick was now lost in the 
song. It was glorious to hear him sing this 
verse : 

'Then in a nobler, sweeter song 

ril sing thy power to save, , 
When this poor lisping stammering tongue 

Lies silent in the grave." 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. J9I 




"She stooped t'o catch his last words, which were spoken 
in a whisper." Page 192. 



102 THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. 

The end was now at hand. One more effort 
and Charles True spoke his last words on earth. 
These were spoken to the wife of his bosom, 
who had attended him with such tenderness and 
faithfulness^, durmg these trying days. She was 
a quiet, unassuming soul, but very devoted to 
God and to her beloved husband. She stooped 
to catch his last words, which were spoken in a 
whisper: 

'The — Blood — cleanses — and — Jesus — is — 
here." 

That was all. Another little flutter of the 
heart and his blood washed soul was gone. One 
of the bravest and truest of men was home at 
last. Earth was poorer but heaven richer. He 
died as he had lived, a victor. The Blood had 
been his theme, when preaching to others. It 
was his theme in the last sentence he uttered. 
He was a strong character, who dared to face 
anything which he knew to be wrong. Convic- 
tion with him meant action. He was kind-heart- 
ed and exceedingly compassionate. Often he had 
sung until many wept for joy, the last two 
stanzas of the hymn so dear to him: 

''Lord I believe thou has prepared 

Unworthy though I be, 
For me a blood-bought free reward, 

A golden harp for me ! 



THE EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL MAN. I93 

*'Tis strung and tuned for endless years, 

And formed by power divine, 
To sound in God the Father's ears, 

No other name but thine." 

(THE END. J 



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